WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/COMTD/W/142 
16 September 2005 
  (05-4066) 
Committee on Trade and Development Original:   English 
  
 
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING PLAN 
2006 
 
Table of Contents
 
Paragraphs 
 
I. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................1- 7 
II. KEY FEATURES OF THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING 
PLAN 2006...................................................................................................................... ......8-14  
III. THE PRODUCTS ............................................................................................................15-116 
A. GENERAL WTO-RELATED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND 
TRAINING ............................................................................................................19-48 
B. SPECIALIZED AND ADVANCED TRAINING AND TECHNICAL 
ASSISTANCE........................................................................................................49-82 
C. ACADEMIC SUPPORT FOR TRAINING AND CAPACITY 
BUILDING:  AN INTEGRATED APPROACH ................................................83-95 
D. SUPPORT TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE 
FACILITIES........................................................................................................96-116 
IV. PROCESSES AND PROGRAMMES..........................................................................117-127 
V. PARTNERSHIPS; INPUTS INTO ACTIVITIES ORGANIZED BY OTHER 
BODIES ......................................................................................................................... .128-140  
VI. MONITORING AND EV ALUATION ........................................................................141-148  
VII. FUNDING.......................................................................................................................1 49-152  
 
ANNEX 1: THE PRODUCT MATRIX:  TABLE OF CONTENTS 
ANNEX 2: THE PRODUCT MATRIX:  LIST OF ACTIVITIES 
 WT/COMTD/W/142 
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I. INTRODUCTION 
1. The Technical Assistance and Training Plan fo r the year 2006 (the Plan) builds on experience 
gained with and lessons learned from the implementa tion of the TA Plan 2005.  The Plan thus further 
consolidates the approach adopted for the delivery of  technical assistance and training since 2004, and 
refines some of the products and concepts. It in tegrates the views of the Members, both donors and 
beneficiaries, that have been put forward in the c ourse of the formal and informal consultations that 
have been taking place since January 2004. So it is not 
 "business as usual", and takes into account the 
negotiating environment.   The structure and organization of the Plan are similar to those of the previous two Plans: emphasis continues to be put on fully integrating training and technical 
cooperation and maximizing synergies between the two, which was one of the main purposes of 
establishing the Institute for Training and Technical Cooperation (ITTC) in 2003.   
2. The Plan is designed to enable the WTO Secretar iat to pursue in a coherent and cost effective 
fashion key objectives mandated by Members.  These are to enhance: institutional and human 
capacity in beneficiary countries to address trade policy issues and concerns; 'mainstreaming' trade 
into national development and poverty reduction policies; facilita ting  fuller participation of 
beneficiaries in the Multilateral Trading System  (MTS); and effective participation in the 
negotiations.  It reflects the principles and prioriti es laid down in the Ministerial Declaration adopted 
at the fourth Ministerial Meeting in Qatar in November 2001, the Doha De velopment Agenda (DDA), 
and takes into account the Decision adopted by the General Council on 1 August 2004 (the 'July 
Framework Agreement').  In light of the Hong K ong, China, Ministerial Meeting to be held in 
December of this year, the Plan may need further adjustments, so as to incorporate any decisions 
taken at that meeting that have implications for trade-related technical assistance (TRTA).  The Plan 
already foresees a one week training programme in a ll regions for senior trade officials, anticipating 
that the DDA negotiations could be concluded in 2006. 
3. The DDA recognizes that technical assistance and capacity building are core elements of the 
development dimension of the MTS.  A well planne d, targeted and coordinated delivery of such 
activities will not only assist resource-constrained Members to adjust to WTO rules and disciplines, 
implement obligations and exercise the rights of me mbership, but will also support domestic efforts to 
mainstream trade into national plans for economic development and strategies for poverty reduction.  
Consistent with the Doha Ministerial Declaration,  the development dimension will be fully reflected 
both generically and in specific modules of the Plan. 
4. The Plan features a range of products which can be used in the delivery of technical 
assistance and training as well as some programmes.  All the products, whether in Geneva or in the 
field, are geared towards achieving the same ge neral objective.  The products can be applied 
individually or in combination.  Moreover, the Pl an is designed in such a way that all eligible 
Members and Observers can systematically benefit.   In light of their pressing trade development 
needs, priority will be given to Least-Developed Co untries (LDCs).  This priority will be articulated 
through specially designed events and, for benefici aries of the Integrated Framework (IF), activities 
will be linked to their processes of mainstreaming tr ade into their national development plans.  The 
main challenge for the WTO is to assist LDCs to integrate into the MTS and to benefit from 
progressive trade liberalization in world trade.  Anothe r challenge is to assist LDCs to participate fully 
in the negotiating process of the DDA.  In the S ecretariat's experience, one way of addressing these 
challenges is to identify and put in place appropria te cost-effective mechanisms that the Secretariat 
can deploy to encourage LDCs to take advantage of the full range of technical assistance and training 
programmes, including national seminars. 
5. The ITTC, as well as the Technical Assistance Management Committee (TAMC), play a 
central role in coordinating the implementation of the activities contained in the Plan.  The 
implementation of the Plan will involve virtuall y all WTO Divisions, as well as partner institutions, 
regional development banks and other agencies.  Mo reover, the process of informal consultations has  WT/COMTD/W/142 
 Page 3 
 
 
proven to be a valuable mechanism for frank and open discussions and exchanging views among 
stakeholders, in a constructive spirit, on issues of common concern in the field of TRTA.  The specific 
recommendations that emerged from this process th rough the mid-term review (summer 2004), as 
well as inputs from the annual report for 2004, have been reflected in designing the new Plan. 
6. The Plan is structured as follows:  Chapter II discusses the key features of technical assistance 
and training for the year 2006, followed by a presen tation in Chapter III of the products and the 
objectives they are meant to achieve.  Chapter IV provides insights into some specific programmes 
and processes relating to the delivery of TRTA.  Ch apter V provides information on partnerships and 
WTO inputs into activities organized by other bodies.  Chapter VI addresses monitoring and evaluation, and Chapter VII covers the issue of funding. 
7. The Annexes provide practical information and more detail on the technical assistance and 
training activities and their resource implicati ons, which are accounted for in terms of output 
(participant/days).  This methodology, which consists  of combining the number of participants over 
the number of days that they have been trained,  was introduced in the TA Plan 2004 and permits a 
more realistic monitoring of implementation.  The Annexes follow the same order as the text of the 
Plan. 
II. KEY FEATURES OF THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING PLAN 2006 
8. The key features of the Plan are: 
• quality-oriented:  while it is important to ensure that Members are offered an 
appropriate number of activities, it is even more important to ensure high quality;   
• product-oriented:  the Plan is centred ar ound the delivery of products.  For each of 
these there are well defined specific objectiv es.  These products include trade policy 
courses of varying duration, which can be he ld in Geneva or in the field, regional 
seminars, workshops, national activities, etc.; 
• process and programme oriented:  besides th e products, the Plan contains several 
processes and programmes geared towards fac ilitating the integration of beneficiaries 
into the multilateral trading system (Integ rated Framework (IF), Joint Integrated 
Technical Assistance Programme (JITAP)); 
• development-oriented:  in keeping with th e thrust of the DDA, special emphasis is 
given to the developmental dimension in all aspects of the Plan; 
• impact and results-oriented:  the Plan la ys emphasis on activities that have been 
proven to build, or to be likely to build , sustainable human and institutional capacity.  
The Plan is intended to "leave a trace"; 
• geographically balanced:  there is a consid erable reliance on regional activities so as 
to ensure an equitable coverage of beneficiaries; 
• broad and deep in coverage:  to ensure  that all the WTO Agreements and the 
negotiating issues of the DDA are addressed, with the appropriate degree of detail;  
• simple and flexible:  the Plan is simple, tr ansparent and flexible.  It plans what is 
plannable (core activities, whether in Gene va or for regions) and leaves room to 
address priority needs and to accommodate specific requests from beneficiaries;  it 
will particularly take into account the needs of LDCs, small and vulnerable 
economies, as well as of non-residents;  and, 
•
 designed to build and strengthen stra tegic partnerships and coherence: 
o with the beneficiaries, i.e. in-country cooperation and capacity building, WT/COMTD/W/142 
Page 4  
 
designed to create conditions which w ill allow transfer of ownership and 
responsibility for training progressively to the beneficiary over time, and through a participatory approach, iden tify needs and establish priorities for 
technical assistance and training; 
o with the donor community, to achieve greater coherence among providers of 
technical assistance and training, avoid overlap and duplication in activities 
and enhance efficiency; 
o with regional training institutes, bodies and other internati onal organizations, 
to share responsibility and take full  advantage of complementarities and 
available expertise;  and, 
o with academia, to work with the academ ic community to meet local needs 
and to encourage WTO-related teaching and  research. 
9. This Plan builds on previous years' experience, with a view to making it even more effective 
as the blueprint for the delivery of training and technical assistance.  In this regard some key recommendations and lessons learned emerging from th e monitoring and evaluation reports have been 
particularly relevant in the design of the Plan.  The priority areas of monitoring and evaluation as well 
as the methodology of feeding back the lessons lear ned are discussed in Chapter VI.  The Plan has 
been conceived with due regard to the recomme ndations made in the Technical Cooperation Audit 
(TCA) Reports for 2002, 2003 and 2004
1, which may contribute to  better planning and delivery of 
TA.  More systematic needs assessment of the Memb ers and continuous dialogue with the Secretariat 
in meeting those needs is expected to result in a more target-oriented selection from among the 
products of the Plan.  This approach, coupled with cl oser attention to the selection of the participants, 
could lead to more relevant TA a nd lasting results.  It is expected to facilitate the development of a 
multi-year approach for the delivery of TRTA, thus leading to sustainable and cumulative capacity building. In line with suggestions made by TCA, more deliberate efforts will be made, in the design 
phase, to ensure more coherent and logical design of TA programmes, which will include realistic, 
measurable and achievable objectives, supported by performance indicators, set out prior to the 
delivery of the technical assistance. TCA will provide its support to that effect. 
10. Various sources of information which have assisted in designing the Plan in the past continue 
to be of importance:  the Secretariat interact s with Members in various ways, e.g. through the 
Committees, direct contacts with Geneva-based dele gations, with visiting officials, including high 
level officials attending the Geneva Week, during missions, in the course of regional and national 
seminars/workshops, during the trade policy courses, he ld either in Geneva or in the field.  The 
Secretariat regularly interacts with regional groupi ngs to discuss TRTA relevant to countries in the 
region and also directly consults with other inte rnational organizations and agencies active in the 
field. 
11. In the course of committee meetings and consu ltations, which are regularly held by the ITTC 
with operational divisions and donor s and potential beneficiary countries or groups of countries, the 
Secretariat has an opportunity to shape the progr amme of activities.  The Committees, through the 
Secretary, are invited to submit their proposals for ac tivities in specific areas to the ITTC in a timely 
fashion, so as to allow for their inclusion into the Plan.  The analyses contained in Trade Policy 
Review (TPR) reports are also helpful in assistin g the Members and Secretariat to identify suitable 
issues for TA.  Cooperation between the ITTC and Trade Policy Review Division (TPRD) has been 
strengthened in support of conducting needs identifica tion.  It should also be noted that certain 
institutional mechanisms, such as th e IF, which includes a phase of diagnostic study of country needs, 
continue to be valuable tools in defining TA pr ogrammes.  Finally, through the back-to-office reports, 
a better appreciation can be obtained as to the requ irements for follow-up activities.  Operational 
divisions have a particular role to play because of their in-depth knowledge of each country's situation 
                                                     
 
1 WT/COMTD/W/111 - 28 March 2003, WT/COMTD/W /125 - 22 March 2004 and WT/COMTD/W/138 – 
15 April 2005  WT/COMTD/W/142 
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with respect to each Agreement.  More generally, if  "demand" (which is not always coterminous with 
"need") is to be accurately assessed and usefully channelled, canvassing of requirements, as defined 
by Members, is particularly important. 
12. Assessing needs is generally recognized as an essential element in designing a Technical 
Assistance and Training Plan.  This has clearly been underlined by Members, who have emphasized 
the necessity for beneficiaries to identify and pr ioritize their requests for assistance, based on a 
process of needs identification.  Fo llowing the preparation of informal  discussion papers on the issue 
of needs identification by the secretariat, as well as the studies that were prepared on a pilot basis for 
several countries, guidelines for needs assessment (J OB(04)/113) were developed, which can assist 
beneficiaries in undertaking their own needs assess ment.  Moreover, a global approach was developed 
in co-operation with TPRD to assess the needs of bene ficiaries in a more systematic manner and in 
direct relation to countries' trade policy reviews.  This approach, which will be detailed further (see 
section D (c)), is now being implemented in developing country beneficiaries. 
13. One of the main challenges in the delivery of TA is to ensure that the participants' and 
Secretariat's expectations match.  It has been proven that the outcome of an activity with an 
homogeneous group of participants in  terms of knowledge is signifi cantly higher than a group with 
varying levels of knowledge.  While this applies to  some extent to general trade policy courses, for 
which a selection process is already established and conducted routinely, it applies more specifically 
when the level of required expertise increases, such as in specialized workshops and training courses.  
In order to ensure that the right match is achieve d prior to the activity, there are responsibilities on the 
side of the Secretariat as well as on the side of the be neficiary.  The Secretaria t has to ensure that the 
letter of invitation for an activity clearly states th e objectives and expected outcome of the activity, as 
well as the required qualifications of the participants.  The beneficiaries need to  ensure that the right 
candidates are proposed for the activity, who fully correspond to the indicated profile.  Thus, in order to match expectations, a selection process is often c onducted, prior to the start of the activity, not only 
for the Geneva-based training courses, but equally fo r field-based workshops and specialized, topic -
related seminars and training courses, and more pa rticularly for advanced and higher levels of 
training. Such a selection process will naturally differ per activity, as discussed further.  Moreover, the 
beneficiaries should ensure the effective participatio n of the officials throughout the activity, so as to 
avoid cancellations and/or early drop-outs, which reduce the participation rates and undermine the 
effectiveness of the activity. 
14. Such selection can include, as is already done by some Divisions, sending out questionnaires 
or other forms for assessment of the candidates, which would provide some indication and assurance 
to the organizers of the activity that the require d expertise is available.  This can be done 
electronically or in writing, and can also include direct interaction with the candidates over the 
telephone.  Such a process is particularly important when the activity is gear ed towards experts in a 
specific field and when higher levels of learning are the objective.  This can apply to advanced 
courses as for anti-dumping practitioners, dispute settle ment, services, market access etc., where the 
main purpose is to provide higher levels of traini ng, thus moving away from the basic training.  
Moreover, these specialized courses are increasi ngly conducted on an inte ractive basis, with 
participants conducting simulations, group work, sh aring of experiences etc, which can only be 
performed successfully if overall levels of participants  are comparable.  In the same vein, participants 
attending more advanced and/or specialized activities are increasingly required to have a solid base 
knowledge, so that they are at par prior to the cour se. In order to synchronize levels of knowledge, the 
Secretariat often prepares lists of readings, which ca n be sent to the participants directly, or can be 
accessed electronically, e.g. on  a dedicated WTO website.  Candidates who are known to have 
participated in training activities already, whatev er their nature (including increasingly e-training) 
make it possible to deliver higher-level training, either more focused or more sophisticated, or both. 
When necessary, the Secretariat should be in a positi on to inform the candidate and/or the relevant 
authorities if it feels that the official does not co rrespond to the profile required for the activity, as 
spelled  out in the letter of invitation. WT/COMTD/W/142 
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III. THE PRODUCTS 
15. The products are designed to ensure a "do-able" number of high quality activities, with 
expected durable effects.  Each product comes w ith clearly identified objectives.  In this way 
outcomes become measurable, making evaluation more meaningful.  The key features discussed 
above are reflected in the design of the products and related technical assistance and training 
activities, and in their implementation.  In defini ng the products, the approach that was adopted 
reflects the situation that each product targets a diff erent need and is based on different levels of 
knowledge of the participants.    Given the differe nt nature of the technical assistance and training 
activities proposed and the objectives for each produc t, it is important that, prior to enrolling a 
participant on a specific course, the needs of the participants a nd the expected benefits for the 
beneficiary country are carefully assessed.  
16. The products can be grouped broadly in four main categories: 
 A. General WTO-related Technical Assistance and Training;  
 B. Specialized and Advanced Technical Assistance and Training;  C. Academic Support for Training and Capacity Building:  an Integrated 
Approach; 
 D. Support Technical Assistance and Training Facilities. 
17. In addition to these products, there are two main  programmes, the Joint Integrated Technical 
Assistance Programme (JITAP) and the Integrated Framework for trade-related assistance to LDCs 
(IF), which are processes or mechanisms for the deliv ery of technical assistance, rather than products 
per se ; they are discussed in Chapter IV. 
18. The main characteristics of these  products are presented in the document, followed by a more 
detailed listing of corresponding activities in the Anne xes.  A distinction is  made between products 
that are geared towards basic learning, requiring relatively lower levels of base knowledge of the 
WTO multilateral trading system, and products that  require increasingly specific and/or advanced 
knowledge and training.   
 A. GENERAL WTO-RELATED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING 
19. This first category covers activities geared towa rds government officials with a broad overall 
WTO responsibility and a general knowledge of the mu ltilateral trading system and who are therefore 
neither specialists, nor technicians.  This al so includes officials who have recently assumed 
responsibilities with regard to the WTO and have not had much exposur e to the theory and practice of 
WTO rules and regulations and for whom this is an opportunity to exchange information and share 
experiences.  The main purpose is to initiate offici als to the rules of the WTO and/or to raise the 
general level of knowledge.  This category mainly includes activities geared towards basic training. 
(a) Trade Policy Courses 
 
20.  A total of nine Trade Policy Courses are held in Geneva (four) and in the regions (five) on an 
annual basis.  They last 12 weeks and through th ese Geneva-/ and field-based courses, a total of 
around 260 participants is reached annually.   They consist of a series of presentations on the WTO, 
including a historical background, the rules and pr ocedures, and its functioning.  All Agreements and 
issues on the WTO agenda are covered.  The purpose is not to form specialists in each area of activity 
of the WTO but rather to ensure that participants  are thoroughly exposed to all WTO-related issues,  WT/COMTD/W/142 
 Page 7 
 
 
and develop practical skills as well as an extensive ne twork of contacts.  This  kind of overall exposure 
is critically important in countries where the human resources devoted to the MTS are insufficient to 
permit a high degree of specialisation.  They also  serve as a general introduction for those who may 
become specialists at a later stage. 
21. A selection process for participants is conducted,  levels of knowledge are tested and at the 
end of the course an evaluation made to assess the impact of the course on each participant.  This 
information is fed back into the process of desi gning and constantly improving the quality of the 
course per se .  A committee is constituted to conduct the process of selection, which includes such 
elements as the eligibility of candidates, their qualifica tions, geographical balance, etc.  Also, levels of 
knowledge before and after the courses are assessed in  a systematic manner, using different methods, 
including self-assessment tests, exercises, etc. 
(i) Geneva-based Trade Policy Courses (TPCs) 
22. Four TPCs are organized annually at Headquarters.  The courses comprise a series of modules 
covering all the areas of work of the WTO.  Th ey also include visits to other international 
organizations active in trade-related matters as well as attendance at selected meetings of WTO 
bodies.  Regular briefings on WTO work-in-progress are an integral part of the TPCs.  Computer 
classes are offered on an optional basis and cont acts with WTO experts and experts from other 
international organizations are also a common featur e.  Moreover, participants are encouraged to 
establish contacts with experts in relevant Divisions , pursue discussions of interest to their country 
with experts in specific field, prepare for national and regional training events with the regional desks 
in ITTC and build working relations with WTO offi cials, thus facilitating follow-up, once the official 
returns to capital. 
23. In terms of objectives, it is expected that, at the end of the Geneva-based TPCs, the 
participants will have: 
• Developed a good understanding of all aspects of the WTO, including the 
Agreements; 
• Improved analytical and negotiating skills; 
• Learned to use effectively the relevant  information and documentation on trade-
related issues; 
• Strengthened capacity to work in teams and in an international environment; 
• Established and/or strengthened a networ k of contacts with each other and the 
trainers/experts. 
24. The TPCs are organized by the ITTC, and call on experts from operational divisions and the 
specialized support of outside consultants.  Guest  speakers from other organizations, in particular 
from International Trade Centre (ITC), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development 
(UNCTAD), World Intellectual Property Organiza tion (WIPO) and the World Bank are regularly 
invited. 
25. Government officials from developing count ries and LDCs, economies in transition and 
acceding countries are eligible to participate in the TPCs.  Between 25 and 30 participants are selected 
for each course.  These officials are usually, but not necessarily, from the Ministry of Trade. In fact 
beneficiaries are strongly encouraged to ensure th at officials from other ministries, who deal with 
trade issues, are also given the opportunity to par ticipate in these courses, as well as in other products.  
The selection process seeks to ensu re an equitable distribution among eligible countries over a cycle 
of six courses:  four in English, one in French a nd one in Spanish.  In 2006, the following courses will 
be held in Geneva: WT/COMTD/W/142 
Page 8  
 
• the 35
th and 36th TPCs for English-speaking officials to be held simultaneously as 
from January 2006;  
• the 37th TPC for Spanish-speaking officials to be held in Summer;  and, 
• the 38th TPC for English-speaking officials to be held in Autumn. 
26. The training methods used put emphasis on in teractive learning, simulations, practical 
exercises, case studies, round tables and debates.  Standardized training material, including 
background material, visual supports, exercises, simulation and reference documents, is being 
consolidated. 
27. The costs of Geneva-based TPCs, including fello wships for the participants covering travel, 
lodging and insurance, are financed through the regular budget. 
(ii) Regional Trade Policy Courses (RTPCs) 
28. RTPCs are built on the same model as Geneva -based TPCs but are delivered in close 
partnership with an institution of higher learning in different regions of the world.  Government 
officials from each specific region participate in the training and the courses adapt to regional 
specificities in terms of number of participants from each country.  The courses are co-delivered by 
officials from the WTO Secretariat and academics an d trade policy specialists from the region. The 
WTO expertise and regional expertise complement each other, rendering this type of training 
comprehensive and adapted to local needs.  WTO lecturers provide authoritative explanations of 
WTO provisions and the workings of the institution,  and specialists from the region deliver lectures 
and discussions with a strong emphasis on regional c oncerns.  This dual-delivery approach provides 
the training with a regional relevance and context that is unique to RTPCs.  
29. So while the key objectives of RTPCs are the same as for the Geneva-based courses, and 
provide similar training opportunities, the RTPCs are also expected to: 
• build institutional partnerships at the regi onal level for capacity building activities; 
• through the joint lecturing arrangements with academics and specialists from the 
region, give the course a regiona l focus and relevance;  and, 
• foster networks among institutions of higher learning and among their academics. 
30. In conjunction with each RTPC, a preparatory workshop is held for specialised academics 
who co-deliver the course.  The workshop provides a detailed briefing on the objectives of the RTPC 
project, bilateral meetings with WTO trainers, updating on the status of ongoing work in the WTO and exchanges on research activities.  The workshop is an integral part of the RTPC project as it helps 
to build the institutional partnership, contextuali zes the joint lecturing arrangements and facilitates the 
building of an academic network. 
31. Although the institutional partnerships can only be  forged with a single institution within a 
region at any one time, the co-lecturers are draw n from institutions of higher learning and other 
sources from throughout the region.  Thus, linkages are established and/or reinforced with the 
academic community as part of an integrated approach for sustainable capacity building.  WT/COMTD/W/142 
 Page 9 
 
 
It is envisaged to organize five RTPCs in 2006:   
• for the Caribbean;  
• for English-speaking Africa; 
• for French-speaking Africa; 
• for Asia and the Pacific;  and 
• for Latin America. 
32. With regard to RTPCs in regions not yet c overed (Arab and Middle E ast Countries, Central 
and Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the Caucas us), discussions with representatives from these 
regions will be undertaken with the view to assessi ng the appropriate timing for the organization of a 
RTPC.  Also, as will be discussed further, these two regions that are not covered through the RTPCs 
will benefit from a three-week short trade policy course. 
(iii) Follow-up to RTPCs 
33. The partnership between the regional institution and the ITTC should evolve over time, with 
the RTPC being considered as Phase 1 of the proj ect.  The increased capacity and expertise of the 
regional partner and the academic network, resultin g from a series of RTPCs,  would be harnessed to 
move on to Phase 2, in which the regional partner assumes a growing share of the responsibility for 
delivering follow-on WTO training activities in the region.  The Secretariat would reduce its involvement and continue with the partnership on this basis.  The le vel of involvement would have to 
be sufficient to respond to particular needs and to allow the WTO to continue to lend its name to the 
activities, while leaving most aspects of organizing and implementing them to the partner. 
34. The timeframe for progress from Phase 1 to Phase 2 of the project depends on each partner, 
the aim being to ensure sustainability.  However, and from experience so far, it is reasonable that 
Phase 1 partnerships in organizing the RTPCs should last for three years.  This timeframe allows 
space for dealing with the inevitable start-up issues, a nd then for the partner institutions to focus more 
and more on building their own capacity as they  gain experience in organizing the courses.  
Measurable progress should be achieved as the c ourses proceed. Discussions are held regularly 
between the ITTC and its partners on progress. 
35. Follow-on actions could include univers ities establishing academic programmes on WTO 
matters (e.g. a multidisciplinary Masters programme or  a module in an Undergra duate or Postgraduate 
Degree).  The WTO Secretariat can provide sugges tions and relevant materials, if requested. 
36. Other follow-on activities could include: 
• regional specialized courses on specific issu es for former participants of RTPCs, 
taught by academics from the region; 
• inputs into vocational training; 
• e-Training activities;  and, 
• curriculum development. 
37. The organization of these Phase 2 activities will be closely related to the efforts of the WTO 
Secretariat to reinforce its links with th e academic community in developing countries. 
38.
 The costs incurred for the organization of RTPC s, including fellowships for the participants 
covering travel, lodging and insurance, and for Phase 2 activities, are covered by the Doha 
Development Agenda Global Trust Fund (GTF). WT/COMTD/W/142 
Page 10  
 
 (b) Introduction Courses  
39. The main purpose of Geneva-based Introductio n Courses is the dissemination of general 
information about the WTO, its basic rules and di sciplines and its functioning.  The courses usually 
last three weeks, and are held at Headquarters.  Briefings on overall WTO work progress are an integral part of the courses.  The development dimension constitutes an important module in the 
programme of introduction courses.  The courses are often conducted with the participation of 
representatives of ITC, UNCTAD, WIPO and the World Bank.   
40. In terms of objectives to be reached, it is e xpected that at the end of the courses the 
participants will have: 
• developed a general understanding of the historical development of the MTS; 
• acquired general knowledge about the basi c principles of the WTO and the legal 
structure of the Marrakech Agreem ent and more recent developments; 
• learned to access relevant information and documentation on WTO-related issues, 
and to use the WTO legal texts and related background material; 
• acquired analytical and practical tools to pl ace a particular trade-related issue in the 
proper WTO context;  and, 
• established and/or strengthened a network of useful contacts between participants and 
with WTO experts from the Secretariat. 
41. The Introduction Courses are organized by th e ITTC in cooperation with experts from 
operational divisions.  Guest speakers from other or ganizations active in the specific area of work 
concerned may also be invited to co-train. 
42. Normally, only government officials from LDCs  are eligible to participate in the two 
introduction courses organized annually.  However, in  certain cases, government officials from other 
developing countries are also invited to particip ate. This will notably be the case for the proposed 
course for Geneva-based delegates. 
43. The training methods used put emphasis on inte ractive learning, practical exercises and case 
studies.  Exercises are used to transfer skills to participants. 
The courses for 2006 are: 
• 9
th  Introduction Course for French-speaking officials from LDCs to be held in 
Summer;  and, 
• 10th  Introduction Course for English-speaking officials from LDCs to be held in 
Autumn. 
• 1st Introduction Course on economics, the WTO and trade policy for Geneva-based 
delegates; 
44. The costs incurred by the organization of In troduction Courses are covered by the regular 
budget. 
(c) Regional and Sub-regional Short Trade Policy Courses (STPCs) 
45. An increasingly important component of the Pl an consists of Short Trade Policy Courses 
(which can last between one and three weeks), whic h are proposed either by the WTO, or as part of  WT/COMTD/W/142 
 Page 11 
 
 
the partnership arrangements2 with other organizations and institu tions, or with regional Secretariats, 
and are held in the field.   
46. The WTO will take the lead in organizing thr ee week STPCs in those regions that are not 
covered by the Regional Trade Policy Courses.  These courses mostly offer basic training information-dissemination, with a regional and/or  sub-regional dimension.  Other agencies will be 
associated with the preparation and implementation of these courses. 
47. The other short trade policy courses, which can be  either general or specific in nature, are 
mainly proposed by partner institutions, with input s by experts of the WTO.  The advantages of 
cooperation with partner agencies in these cour ses are numerous, as the partner agencies not only 
often take charge of (part of) the logistical and administrative burden of organizing such events, as 
well as a share of the costs, but also enhance the quality of the courses, with more emphasis on the 
regional dimension than what the WTO could ensure.  Such STPCs are held  in nearly all regions with 
the local partners, as discussed in more detail in Ch apter V.  Some of the partners have at their 
disposal regional training centres, offering local  facilities where the activities can be conducted.  
Increasingly, such cooperation becomes institutionali zed. Experience has shown that for cooperation 
with partners to be effective and in order to e nhance ownership of these programmes, sharing in the 
costs of the activity as well as in the logistical and administrative preparations is a sine qua non .  
Without such practical cooperation the orga nization of these courses cannot be assured. 
48. In addition, in light of the expectation of  Members that the DDA negotiations could be 
concluded in 2006, it is proposed to organize, in each region, a one week specialized programme, 
designed for high level officials and decision-makers, focusing specifically on topical issues in the 
DDA negotiations.  More information on this advanc ed, hence specialized, programme is provided in 
section B. 
Any part of the costs of such courses accr uing to WTO will be covered by trust funds. 
B. SPECIALIZED AND ADVANCED TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE 
49. This category of products includes activities that address specific topics and issues and are 
geared towards the initiated and specialists/techni cians.  They include national and/or regional 
seminars and workshops, as well as specialized courses, and can be held in Geneva or in the field.  
Given their specific nature, these ac tivities are exclusively geared towa rds specialists.  The criteria for 
participation are clearly indicated in the letter of invitation and a selection process may be conducted.  
This category includes other products which are speci fic in nature, including technical missions and 
workshops, as well as tailor-made programmes for experts and visiti ng delegations in Geneva, and 
advice provided by the Secretariat in specific fields. 
(a) Geneva-based Specialized Courses  
50. Geneva-based Specialized Courses focus on one or a group of WTO-related topics, and 
usually last one or two weeks.  Briefing on WTO work progress in the topics concerned is an integral part of the specialized courses.  The training me thods used put emphasis on interactive learning, 
practical exercises, case studies and debates.  Simulati on exercises are often used to transfer skills to 
participants.  
51. In terms of objectives, it is expected that at th e end of the courses the participants will have:   
• acquired a more in-depth understanding of  the specific issues concerned;  and, 
                                                     
 
2 See chapter V for a more detailed discussion on the partnerships. WT/COMTD/W/142 
Page 12  
 
• improved practical skills to enhance thei r country's participation in the WTO, 
including in the context of current negotiations. 
52. The specialized courses are organized by th e ITTC in cooperation with experts from 
operational divisions and sometimes with the ad ho c support of outside consultants or professors.  
Geneva-based delegates and guest speakers from other organizations active in the specific area of 
work concerned may also be invited to co-train.  Some of these courses will focus more specifically 
on the DDA negotiations. 
53. Government officials from developing count ries and LDCs, economies in transition and 
acceding countries are eligible to participate in th e specialized courses.  Government officials from 
developed countries can be invite d to some courses, e.g. specialized courses on Dispute Settlement 
Rules and Procedures, which are organized pursuant to Article 27.3 of the DSU. 
54. The following specialized courses are scheduled for the year 2006 :   
• 14
th (Specialized) Dispute Settlement Cour se (for Spanish-speaking officials); 
• 15th (Specialized) Dispute Settlement Cour se (for English-speaking officials); 
• 2nd Specialized Course on Sanitary and Ph ytosanitary (SPS) (for English-speaking 
officials);  and, 
• 5th Specialized Course on Trade Negotiations:  from Theory to Practice (for  
English-speaking officials). 
55. The costs incurred by the organization of specia lized courses held in Geneva differ depending 
on the activity.  For the (specialized) Dispute Se ttlement Courses, the participation of a limited 
number of developing countries, including LDCs, is financed through the regular budget, while the 
other participants are self-financed.  For the othe r Specialized Courses, the costs are covered through 
the regular budget. 
(b) National Technical Assistance Activities 
56. The national activities focus on specific issues at the national level that, in terms of priority 
needs and depth of treatment, cannot be adequately c overed in the regional seminars and in the TPCs.  
They also include the trade policy clinics, the con cept of which is detailed in  a separate note for the 
Committee on Trade and Development (WT/COMTD/W/ 117, 16 June 2003).  Occasionally, national 
seminars are of a broad and gene ral nature.  National seminars a nd technical workshops are conducted 
as a complement to the TPCs and regional seminars .  The national demand would thus mainly be a 
function of what cannot be dealt with efficien tly in the other training and assistance provided 
including through regional seminars and ipso facto , cannot always be anticipated.3 In order to better 
target the TRTA, beneficiaries would need to base  their requests on a needs identification, to be 
conducted by the beneficiary, possibly with the support of the WTO Secretariat.  This would 
contribute to providing the basis for building multi-year programmes and would render technical assistance more effective.  In addition, it would help  if countries were in a position to indicate what 
assistance is already provided bilaterally (e.g. by do nors) or multilaterally (e.g. by other agencies), so 
that overlap can be avoided and th e WTO can provide its expertise. 
57. Requests for national activities can be made at any time, as flexibility in matching available 
resources in specialized WTO Divisions with na tional demands is required.  Members will be 
                                                     
 
3 For acceding countries, the provisi on of national technical assistance is particularly essential.  
Acceding countries' technical assistance needs are specific in nature and vary  with the stages of the accession 
process.  The type of assistance th at can be provided to acceding countri es by the WTO is broad and ranges 
from awareness activities (seminars, workshops) and th e preparation of documentation to technical advice on 
legislation and enforcement mechanisms.  WT/COMTD/W/142 
 Page 13 
 
 
informed of this approach in writing, and the st eps to be taken for obta ining national technical 
assistance activities will be explained, as contained in this document. Reminders will be issued in the 
most appropriate way and as required.  Request s for national technical assistance and training 
activities can be made to the Secretariat, either directly (in writing) or through the respective WTO 
Bodies.  Such national activities will therefore not specifically be listed in the Plan, but will be 
registered in a database and managed by the ITTC .  Their implementation by the WTO will depend on 
a number of considerations and criteria, including: 
• the specificity of the request and the prio rity/relevance of the issue in terms of 
domestic policy-making and/or multilateral trade negotiations; 
• whether the request could be or has been addressed in a regional seminar, previous 
national training course or under a jo int programme (e.g. JITAP, IF); 
• the Secretariat capacity to undertake the activity;  and, 
• scope for meeting the request through a partner agency and/or donor (i.e.. 
outsourcing). 
58. It is the responsibility of the beneficiary country  making a request to ensure that this request 
reflects a national priority.  This is particular ly important, as individual departments sometimes 
approach the Secretariat directly for assistance.  Therefore, Members are urged to address their 
requests for national activities to the Secretariat th rough the established official channels.  Also, a 
geographical balance needs to be maintained.  This  implies that the Secretariat will ensure that 
national activities will be conducted in all regions and in equal proportion, of course mainly 
depending on demand.  Given the limitations in WTO resources, the number of demands that can be met in respect of a beneficiary country will be limit ed, but through this approach the Secretariat will 
be in a better position to adapt the technical assistan ce to Members' demands as they are identified.  
This can only lead to more focused and relevant assistance.   
59. The Secretariat is prepared to undertake the same number of national activities that were 
conducted in recent years, i.e. around 250, and budgetary  provisions have been made to that effect.  
Given the number of potential beneficiaries, this w ould amount to an anticipated average of about two 
national activities per country.  This figure is indica tive and should ensure that a disproportionate 
allocation of national seminars to the same benefici ary would not occur.  The 'first-come first-served 
approach' will not be applicable.  LDCs would a priori be able to have up to three national activities, 
based on their specific requests. It has been noticed that beneficiar ies occasionally  cancel or postpone 
activities, sometimes at the last minute, and frequ ently without explanation, and then expect the 
secretariat to reschedule the activity.  There is, ho wever, no automatic 'entitlement' to two or three 
activities, and it cannot be transferred from one year to the next. Such transf er can exceptionally be 
considered when the Secretariat  is not in a position to  deliver the activity in a given year, e.g. in light 
of human resource constraints. 
60. The allocation of national seminars is mainly  a function of the demand and all requests will 
be given serious and equal consider ation.  Regional coordinators in the ITTC will be pro-active, and 
in dialogue with the beneficiary, the relevant WTO Divisions and possibly donors and other agencies, 
will consider how the request can best be met.  Me mbers are thus encouraged to contact the ITTC and 
particularly the regional coordinators, who will gu ide them further in the process regarding their 
requests.  Should the Secretariat not be in a pos ition to execute the activity within a reasonable 
timeframe, e.g. because of capacity constraints, it w ould consider and suggest possible alternatives in 
consultation with the beneficiary country.  For exampl e, the request may be redirected to one of the 
agencies/institutions with which the WTO has cooperative arrangements.  The Organisation for 
Economic Cooperation and Devel opment (OECD)/WTO Trade Capacity Building Database may 
provide guidance in that regard. In any case, prior ity will be given to the most urgent requests, 
particularly from LDCs and fro m small and vulnerable economies. WT/COMTD/W/142 
Page 14  
 
61. National activities for LDCs would be over and above technical assistance and training 
activities inscribed in joint programmes, including JITAP and IF, to the extent that they do not 
overlap.  It should also be noted that there conti nue to be a number of LDCs who do not utilize their 
right to request national seminars.  The reasons for this can vary, e.g. lack of awareness, lack of 
capacity to identify and prioritize needs, or a lack of  capacity to host a national event.  The Secretariat 
will pursue its efforts to associate a ll LDCs with all aspects of the Plan. 
National activities will be financed from the regular budget and from trust funds. 
(c) Regional Seminars 
62. As a result of the regional seminars and workshops, the beneficiaries:   
• will be equipped with practical knowle dge and improved understanding of the 
agreements and issues of negotiation, and ad equate skills to solve specific problems, 
as needed; 
• will have shared information and experiences;  and, 
• placed and analysed the various issues in a regional context. 
63. Regional seminars, for capital based officials,  allow WTO to reach a homogeneous audience 
based in the region and interested in the same subjec t matter;  they are considered cost effective, it 
being clear that it would be impossible to address ever y issue in every country on a national basis.  It 
also facilitates exchange of information, shari ng of experiences and networking among participants.  
Regional seminars increasingly move away from pr oviding basic explanations to more advanced 
levels of training. 
64. While this regional approach may be suitable for many WTO-related topics, it has become 
apparent that this approach may be less appropria te for some areas, which rather require a more 
focused national approach.  In view of the observati ons made by participants and trainers, especially 
through the back to office reports, it is proposed to reduce the frequency of  topic related regional 
seminars, particularly in those areas that are not direc tly part of the negotiations. It is considered that a 
biennial cycle will suffice for most topics, bearing in mind that all agreements are systematically 
covered through the Geneva-based training as well as through the Regional Trade Policy Courses. 
65. Regional seminars will be conducte d in some or all regions, or sub-regionally if considered 
more practical, in the most practical and homogeneous  way. The regions that will be covered are:  
• Africa (English); 
• Africa (French); 
• Arab and Middle East countries; 
• Asia and the Pacific; 
• the Caribbean; 
• Central and Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the Caucasus;  and, 
• Latin America. 
66. Some subjects will not be covered in all regions  during 2006; they will be covered over a two-
year cycle, partly to reduce costs, partly to allevi ate some of the pressure on WTO staff, and partly to 
reduce the pressure on participants, who have a broad ra nge of training events on offer.  Priority will 
be given to topics under negotiation, which will, in principle be covered in all regions. In all cases, 
coverage of these topics will be ensured in the TP Cs and the RTPCs.  In some cases, and for 
pragmatic reasons, there may be additional regional or sub-regional seminars which are therefore not  WT/COMTD/W/142 
 Page 15 
 
 
included in the Plan, because, for example, further explanations are required on a specific issue, which 
cannot be anticipated, or because there is a critical  mass of national demand that can be met more 
cost-effectively through a regional activity .  Regional seminars cover the Uruguay Round 
Agreements, as well as other WTO-related topics, the degree of coverage being determined essentially 
by the Members' decision.  While each of the sem inars will be designed according to the specifics of 
the field covered, such seminars will, as much as possible, take into account different levels of 
knowledge and degrees of specialization.  In so me cases they will be tailored to experts and 
'technicians' with highly specialized knowledge, e.g. in the area of Rules, Dispute Settlement, Market Access, Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures ( SPS) and Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT). 
67. The level of expertise required (target audience)  will always be specified in the letter of 
invitation and it will be the primary responsibility of the beneficiaries to ensure that their attendees 
have the required level of knowledge  and expertise.  As discussed earlier, a selection process may also 
be conducted for some of these activities, depending on their format.  As to testing levels of 
knowledge at the end of the seminars, increasingly se minars include self-assessment exercises and/or 
simulations as part of the training, which to some extent, allow participants to 'measure' whether the 
information has been fully absorbed. 
68. Seminars to be conducted at the regional level will be in the following areas, which may need 
to be reviewed in light of the outcome of the Hong Kong, China, Ministerial Meeting: 
(i) Agriculture; 
(ii) Dispute Settlement; 
(iii) Government Procurement (P lurilateral Agreement on); 
(iv) Non-Agriculture Market Access (NAMA); 
(v) Regional Trade Agreements; 
(vi) Rules (Anti-Dumping, Subsidies and CVDs, Safeguards, State Trading); 
(vii) Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS); 
(viii) Services negotiations and GATS; 
(ix) Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT); 
(x) Trade and Development, including:  Sp ecial and Differential Treatment and 
Small Economies; 
(xi) Trade and Environment; 
(xii) Trade Facilitation;  and, 
(xiii) Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs) (e.g. 
geographical indications, TRIPs and pub lic health, biotechnology/traditional 
knowledge/biodiversity, enforcement). 
69. The proposed work programme on some issues, particularly those relating to the DDA, takes 
into account the Decision adopted by the General Co uncil on 1 August 2004.  More specific attention 
will be given to Trade Facilitation, for which th e General Council Decision explicitly refers to 
technical assistance to be provided, to NAMA a nd Services.  Trade Facilitation and NAMA will be 
covered through regional seminars in all regions, in addition to wh ich these subjects can be addressed WT/COMTD/W/142 
Page 16  
 
at the national level, if a specific request is made .  In the area of Services, the General Council 
Decision calls for targeted technical assistance wi th a view to enabling developing countries to 
participate effectively in the Services negotiations.  Thus, in this area, the request-offer process for 
new or improved commitments will lead to country-focused advice to stimulate national 
contributions.  Regional seminars on services will essentially focus on developments in rule-making 
negotiations and other relevant issues arising fro m the ongoing services negotiations.  These issues 
will be covered at the nati onal level if a request is received to th at effect, and will continue to feature 
in the TPCs and the RTPCs.  
70. There are also other products which could be de livered in conjunction with regional seminars, 
the TPCs and RTPCs, including those geared toward s assisting trade negotiators in the formal and 
informal negotiating process, at both bilateral and multilateral levels.  Some of the products proposed 
have been developed by the WTO and others in  collaboration with academia and regional or 
international institutions and were discussed in l ast year's Plan.  Essentially they relate to: 
a) the Integrated Database (IDB) and the Consolidated Tariff Schedules (CTS) database, 
with the software applications to allow the extraction, analysis and use of data:  the 
IDB Internet Analysis Facility, the IDB CD-ROM and the IDB Reporting Tools; 
b) "Toolkit for Negotiators and Training":  prepar ation and analysis of lists of offers or 
requests, and comparison, analysis and preparation of proposals on WTO disciplines. 
 
71. As for the venue for the regional seminars, as in  the past this will be decided in consultation 
between the Secretariat and the Members, to en sure a reasonable geographical distribution of 
activities, taking account also of practical consider ations (ease of access, conference facilities, etc).  
Such consultations would involve the regional coordinators in the ITTC, the operational division that 
will undertake the activity and countries in the regi ons where the activity would be undertaken.  When 
and where appropriate, such activity could also be hosted by a partner institution, including a regional 
development bank, a training centre or a regional Secretariat;  when that happens the venue is 
determined by the partner institution. 
72. There are several other technical assistance and training products discussed later in the Plan, 
which will also be delivered at the regional level.   Altogether, there are some 20 specific topics 
covered regionally.  The total of anticipated regiona l seminars as referred to in paragraph 68 would be 
close to 70.  They will be financed from trust funds and from the regular budget. 
(d) DDA Advanced Training Programme  for senior government officials 
73. Given the widespread view among delegations  that the DDA negotiations should conclude 
in 2006, it is proposed to organize, in each re gion, a one week DDA Advanced Training Programme 
designed for senior capital based offi cials and decision makers, focusing specifically on issues in the 
DDA negotiations.  These programmes would address the key issues in the negotiations, so as to inform and update beneficiaries for the final part of  the negotiations.  It is intended to conduct these 
programmes in close collaboration with partner in stitutions in the various regions. Costs will be 
covered by trust funds. 
(e) Intensive Course on Trade Negotiations Skills 
74. The WTO organizes an Intensive Course on Trad e Negotiations Skills, which is designed to 
provide participants with skills and knowledge co ncerning appropriate strategies and tactics for the 
conduct of negotiations, as well as techniques of sy stematic decision analysis for monitoring and 
managing the negotiating process. 
75. The course contributes directly to the objectiv es of the DDA by improving, deepening and 
enhancing participants' unde rstanding of the negotiations, more particularly the 2004 July package.   WT/COMTD/W/142 
 Page 17 
 
 
The core of the course encompasses all the stages in trade negotiations—from the consultation stage 
to actual negotiations, involving real give-and-take. 
76. The training provides instructions in pre-negotia tion planning, effective negotiation strategies 
and tactics, and the management of the negotiation process that leads to a win-win outcome for all parties.  These activities take different approaches,  going from theoretical comprehension of previous 
and present negotiations, enhancemen t of skills and techniques, simulations, case studies and use of 
data extracted from existing databases. 
77. The target group for the intensive course on trade negotiation skills are officials with good 
knowledge of the WTO Agreements a nd who will serve as their governme nt negotiators in regional or 
international trade negotiations.  As this is an a dvanced training course, participants should already 
have good knowledge of the WTO Agreements. Costs will be covered by trust funds. 
(f) Outreach Activities for Parlia mentarians and Civil Society 
78. Outreach activities for parliamentarians and civil society are part of an overall WTO strategy 
to help legislators and civil society representa tives better understand the provisions of the Doha 
Ministerial Declaration.  They are also a res ponse to challenges in the Declaration for greater 
transparency in the WTO's operations and improved dialogue with the public.  Outreach activities are 
demand driven and consist of national worksh ops organized in response to requests from 
WTO Members (referred to in a separate section) and regional workshops organized jointly with 
partner institutions and conducted in selected re gions.  Preparation for regional seminars are 
conducted in close cooperation with Members and the host-country.  In view of the limited capacity in 
the Secretariat, the number of regional activities c overing outreach will not exceed five, the number of 
national activities will be a function of demand.  The inclusion and implementation of outreach 
activities in the technical assistance and training plan  will remain part of the review process conducted 
through the CTD in order to ensure  that the focus of technical assi stance and capacity building efforts 
remain on key priorities identified by the developing Members and in line with mandate
4 contained in 
the Doha Ministerial Declaration and in the 2004 July package. 
79. Concerning regional workshops, these are introducto ry-level and working-level.  They are 
interactive and presentations are routinely s upported by written material and background 
documentation.  Also, to the extent the regiona l workshops are co-organized and co-funded with 
partner institutions, they allow for cross-fertilizat ion of ideas.  Governments in the various host 
countries are informed on the regional workshops, asso ciated to the preparatory process and routinely 
invited to contribute. 
80. The objectives of the regional workshops are the same:   
• to foster greater understanding of and interest in the MTS; 
• to inform parliamentarians and civil soci ety representatives on the basic operations of 
the WTO, key issues on the international trad e agenda, and status of the DDA;  and, 
• to encourage dialogue and exchanges of views and ideas among parliamentarians and 
civil society representatives on trade-related and development-related issues of particular relevance to their regions. 
81. In the regional workshops, participants recei ve a basic introduction to the MTS covering its 
history, structure, functions, principles, membership  and operating procedures.  Participants are also 
briefed on the workings of the WTO Secretariat an d decision-making procedures of the organization.  
In addition, participants ar e informed on key WTO agreements and the status of the DDA 
Negotiations.  Regional workshops are designed as we ll to cover issues of sp ecial interest to the 
                                                     
 
4 Paragraphs 38-41 of the Doha Ministerial Declaration WT/COMTD/W/142 
Page 18  
 
particular region/group;  in this regard guest  speakers from the region and representatives from 
international and regional organiza tions are regularly invited to address the workshops.  Throughout 
the regional workshops, parliamentarians and civil society representatives are encouraged to consider 
their respective roles in multilateral processes a nd ways to increase parliamentary and public 
awareness of the international trade agenda. 
82. The cost of outreach activities are covered from trust funds. 
C. ACADEMIC SUPPORT FOR TRAINING AND CAPACITY BUILDING:   
AN INTEGRATED APPROACH  
83. The ITTC has engaged in a process of developi ng partnerships between the WTO Secretariat 
and the trade policy-related academic community in Member countries.  These partnerships are 
designed to promote "joined up" capacity building,  simultaneously enhancing the capacity of the 
WTO to train government officials, building ins titutional and human capacity for such training in 
developing countries, contributing to the devel opment of WTO-related curricula in academic 
institutions of higher learning, and promoting WTO- relevant research intended to strengthen national 
and regional negotiating capacity.  The partnershi ps build on various activities already being 
undertaken by the WTO Secretariat.  They will e volve over time, with certain activities increasingly 
becoming the responsibility of partners. 
84. This integrated approach has two elements.  These elements can in principle stand alone, but 
there is a strong argument in favour of their integration in order to increase prospects for sustainability.  The elements of this integrated approach to academic partnerships for capacity 
building are: 
(a) training government officials through the estab lishment of joint lecturing arrangements at 
the regional level with academics and specialists;  
(b) building institutional partnerships at the regional level and crea ting academic networks 
with institutions of higher learning; these academ ic networks have several elements on which 
to build, including: 
(i) curriculum development; 
(ii) increasing knowledge through training; 
(iii) development of didactic material; 
(iv) information exchange; 
(v) encouragement of joint research by academics from developing countries 
and the WTO; 
(vi) a programme for support of doctoral studies; 
(vii) arrangements for short-term research visits to the WTO by academics;  and, 
(viii) broader public access to WTO-related information in Universities. 
85. Costs for these activities will be met principally from the GTF, unless otherwise indicated. 
86. Activities geared towards building partnerships for training and capacity building include:  WT/COMTD/W/142 
 Page 19 
 
 
(i) Regional Trade Policy Courses 
87. As discussed in section A.(a)(ii), RTPCs form a key component in building such partnerships, 
the main objective being to transfer and enhance lo cal ownership and to build capacity at the regional 
level. 
(ii) Workshops for University Professors on WTO Matters 
88. Workshops will be organized on a periodic basis to solidify and advance partnerships with 
academics.  They are essential for adequate coor dination and networking.  These events address 
different components of our joint activities involving teaching and research, all of which aim to increase the capacity of Members to participate ef fectively in the WTO.  Elements for discussion 
include curriculum development, teaching material s and literature, information exchange, evaluation 
of joint teaching activities aimed at government of ficials, and joint research.  Furthermore, these 
meetings are used to update the academic partne rs on progress in the WTO negotiations and work 
programme, and equally serve to prepare for RTPC s organized by the Secretariat in the regions. 
89. The workshops last three days and each one i nvolves up to 30 academics from the region.  
The Secretariat aims at delivering two of these work shops in 2006, in the regions not yet covered by 
RTPC.  For the regions where RTPCs are held, there are the workshops held in conjunction with them 
(see para. 30 above).  
(iii) Support Programme for Doctoral Studies  
90. The main objective of such a support programme is  to contribute to a continuing renewal and 
enlargement of academic WTO expe rtise in developing countries. 
91. The Secretariat will finance and assist doctoral students from developing countries to conduct 
research at the WTO for periods between three and six months, and to  provide them with 
mentoring/advice in close collaboration with the stud ents' academic supervisors.  Since this is likely 
to be a highly effective means of engaging young aca demics in WTO-related research of direct policy 
relevance to governments, the inte ntion is to accommodate up to 12 students at any one time.  In 
2006, budget provisions will be made for 12 students over the year. 
(iv) Programme for Visiting Academics 
92. The Secretariat will facilitate visits of up to six months by practising academics who are 
working on WTO-related issues.  This will allow the academics to interact with the Secretariat and the 
trade policy community more generally, and maxi mise the WTO relevance of their work.  Visiting 
academics would be self-financed. 
(v) Research Collaboration 
93. The main objective of research collaboration is to develop joint research initiatives on  
WTO-related matters with academics from developi ng countries.  Such collaboration will increase 
engagement by the scholarly community in WTO -relevant research, to increase the supply of region 
and country-based analysis of WTO-related policy issues.  The cost of planned joint research 
programmes in 2006 will be met from the regular budget. 
(vi) Document Dissemination Programme for Universities 
94. The main objective of the document dissemination programme is to contribute to the creation 
and/or strengthening of a WTO "library" at Univer sities from developing countries with a view to 
facilitating access to this informa tion by the student population. WT/COMTD/W/142 
Page 20  
 
95. The WTO disseminates, on a yearly basis, a set of WTO publications, in both hard copy and 
electronic formats to groups of Universities from deve loping countries.  The cost will be met from the 
regular budget. 
D. SUPPORT TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FACILITIES 
96. The Secretariat has developed a number of products and technical assistance facilities that are 
aimed at providing general and specific support to dele gations and beneficiaries, both in the field and 
in Geneva.  In the field, this can include provi ding infrastructural support, through the reference 
centres, which facilitates access to WTO-related information as well as training material in different 
formats, including in print or electronically, servicing non-residents, as well as such support provided within the TPR framework.  This also includes Geneva-based support, e.g. through the Geneva week, 
the introduction days, WTO's trainee programm es and internships, assisting Geneva-based 
delegations, briefing sessions, as well as assistan ce provided in conducting needs assessment. 
(a) Geneva-based activities 
(i) Geneva-based Topic-Specific Symposia 
97. Several stand-alone symposia for either capital-b ased or Geneva-based officials to take place 
in Geneva on specific topics have been proposed by  divisions, largely reflecting suggestions that 
emerged from various WTO bodies as well as areas that  have priority attention in light of the DDA. 
The symposia are often held back-to-back with mee tings, which then become part of the activity for 
the participants.  At the informal consultati ons this issue was specifically addressed. Members 
recognized the high cost associated with organizi ng such events, particularly when capital based 
officials are invited to attend the workshops and sy mposia, but also recognized the possible merits of 
such symposia and the usefulness of associating cap ital based officials with Geneva discussions.  It 
was agreed that the money allocated  to such events should be limited and that the Secretariat would 
have to use its discretion, in consultation with  Divisions, and with Counc ils and Committees on the 
symposia requested. Also, it was suggested that the TCA Unit look more specifically into the 
cost/benefit issue.  
98. The costs will be met from the trust funds. 
(ii) WTO Introduction Day  
99. WTO Introduction Days are usually held three to four times a year in Geneva and are 
intended for newly arrived delegates in Geneva, n on-governmental organizations, journalists, new 
WTO staff members, interns working in the S ecretariat and interested officials from other 
international organizations.  Other interested dele gates and staff members are also welcome to attend 
the presentations. 
100. In terms of objectives to be reached, it is expect ed that at the end of the Day the participants 
will have:   
• acquired a general understanding of the WTO, its functioning and fundamental 
principles; 
• learned how to access WTO-relevant resour ces through information technology;  and, 
• been updated on WTO current activities (including negotiations).  WT/COMTD/W/142 
 Page 21 
 
 
101. These courses are organized by the ITTC in c ooperation with experts from other divisions and 
mainly consist of a presentation on the state-of-play of the negotiations, the historical background of 
the MTS, the WTO basic principles, the functioning of the Organization, as well as the different ways 
to access WTO-relevant information.  The courses are held at Headquarters.  There are no direct costs 
for these activities. 
 (iii) Other Forms of Geneva-based Support 
102. A variety of different products are provi ded directly in Geneva, which include: 
• the "Geneva Week" for Non-Residents , which is funded through the regular budget of 
the WTO.  In order to meet the special ch allenges faced by the Non-Residents and to 
enhance their participation in the MTS, the WTO organizes the "Geneva Week", during 
which representatives of Non-Residents from capitals and from Europe-based missions 
are invited to Geneva.  Two "Geneva Weeks" are scheduled in 2006.    By the end of 
the week the participants: 
o will have become familiar with the stat e of play of work and work processes 
in the WTO and the range of technical assistance on offer;  and, 
o will have benefited from opportunities – dur ing their stay – to be involved in 
the work of WTO bodies;  and from interaction with officials from other 
Geneva-based agencies and delegations. 
• the Newsletter for Non-Residents  prepared by the Secretariat, seeks to respond to the 
special challenges faced by the Members without representation in Geneva in terms of their participation in the work of the WTO.   It provides information on recent meetings 
and activities, as well as on upcoming activiti es.  The newsletter is prepared on a 
monthly basis, but supplemented periodically by additional communications; 
• ad hoc assistance ;  such assistance is provided to visiting delegations, for whom 
specialized programmes, lectures, briefing sessions are designed and meetings organized;  equally, delegations frequently  seek direct support from WTO Divisions on 
specific WTO Agreements (no direct costs); 
• briefing sessions through video-conferencing :  regularly the Secretariat organizes 
meetings with beneficiary countries through vi deo-conferencing, to inform them about 
a specific issue.  Many countries can be c onnected simultaneously through these means 
with Headquarters, so as to ensure an inte ractive dialogue.  Such conferences are very 
cost effective (cost is relate d to video/telephone connection); 
• servicing Regional Groups :  the Secretariat provides assistance to regional groupings in 
support of their meetings and organizes brie fings on specific WTO-related topics in 
light of negotiations (no direct costs);  and, 
• advisory role on legal issues :  the Secretariat has, since the conclusion of the Uruguay 
Round, provided legal advice in accordance with the requirement in Dispute Settlement 
Understanding (DSU) Article 27.2 to any deve loping country which so requests in the 
event of that country being involved in dis pute settlement (costs c overed by the regular 
budget). 
(iv) Trainee Programmes and Internships 
103. The WTO internship system has been fully de veloped and consolidated.  There are four 
different components to the WTO internship progr amme.  These programmes vary in nature and 
duration, however, they all have the common underl ying objective of building human capacities in a 
systematic and cumulative manner:   WT/COMTD/W/142 
Page 22  
 
(a) the regular WTO internship,
5 in which interns are selected in Geneva, by WTO 
Divisions.  Generally these interns are empl oyed by the WTO for a duration of up to 
24 weeks, the length of the internship depending on the project the intern is requested to work on, and on the needs of each divisi on.  Paid interns receive a daily allowance 
of CHF60 (including weekends and official holidays).  This programme is financed 
from the WTO regular budget and is managed by the Human Resources Division; 
(b) the Netherlands Trainee Programme (NTP), which replaces the former Dutch 
internship programme, which came to an e nd in Spring 2005.  The aim of the NTP is 
to assist in the economic and social de velopment of least developed countries 
(LDCs), low income countries and compar able poor small and vulnerable economies 
in areas related to trade policy and to provide essentially junior public officials with 
the opportunity to learn about matters dealt with in the WTO, under the direction of staff members of the WTO.  Particular atten tion will be given to African countries.  It 
is expected that up to 20 trainees will be  accommodated per year. The official will 
receive a lump sum of CHF5,000 a month pl us travel expenses and will spend a total 
period of up to ten months with the WTO.  The official will be expected to complete 
a specific and well defined task in that peri od in conformity with the objectives of the 
NTP.  This task will need to have specifi c relevance for the beneficiary country in 
terms of capacity building and/or in th e ongoing negotiations, and will be defined 
prior to the beginning of the traineeship. The main objective of the NTP is to generate 
tangible and measurable results and thus leave a lasting trace, including through: 
(i) building sustainable capacity in benefici ary countries, by providing officials 
with an opportunity to participate directly in WTO's work in Geneva; 
(ii) providing exposure to ongoing activities in  the Secretariat, which will assist 
officials in enhancing their understanding of the functioning of the WTO and the Multilateral Trading System and providing relevant policy advice to 
the governments; 
(iii) facilitating the implementation of Member's commitments in the WTO; and, 
(iv) contributing to the achievement of the goals of the Doha Development 
Agenda and more specifically, those set out in the Decision of the General Council of 1 August 2004. 
(c) the WTO Regional Coordinator internship:  in  this programme, the intern will be paid 
by the WTO, and will be based in the Mission of a rotating coordinator of each of 
nine designated groups, for a period of six-months, without extension .  At the end of 
six-months, the system will rotate to the next designated group coordinator of the nine identified groupings (groups select th eir rotating coordinators).  These groups 
are:  
(i) the ACP – both the Geneva Secretariat and the office of the rotating country 
coordinator; 
(ii) the WTO African Group; 
(iii) the CARICOM; 
(iv) the GRULAC; 
                                                     
 
5 This is not officially a TRTA "product", even if many interns are from developing countries.  WT/COMTD/W/142 
 Page 23 
 
 
(v) the SAARC; 
(vi) the WTO LDCs’ Consultative Group; 
(vii) the Informal Group of Developing Countries; 
(viii) the Arab Group;  and, 
(ix) the Pacific Islands Forum. 
The internship system will be strictly limited to these nine groupings.  Interns under 
this system are paid CHF3,000 per month, plus travel expenses, from the GTF; 
 (d) the WTO mission internship:  This programme was developed in early 2001, with a 
similar objective as the Dutch programme, for the benefit of Geneva-based missions.  
The candidates work in their own country Mission in Geneva and not in the WTO 
Secretariat and can represent their country in the various bodies within the WTO.  
This programme is available primarily to missions of LDCs a nd small and vulnerable 
economies.  Since resources for this programme are limited, preference is given to countries with the least number of staff in Geneva.  For this programme, interns are 
selected by the Human Resources Division together with the Mission concerned on 
the basis of a list of detailed CVs and po ssible telephone interviews.  In short, the 
selection criteria are similar to that for entry level positions at WTO.  Continuation of this programme will depend on th e availability of resources, which relied, for the past 
two years, on earmarked funds that need replenishing. Such funds sometimes specify 
which countries may benefit.  Interns under this system are paid CHF3,000 per 
month, plus travel expenses, for a period of 10 months. 
(b) Activities Held in the Field 
(i) Reference Centres  
104. The WTO Reference Centre is a dedicated place, generally attached to the Ministry of Trade 
which is used as a documentation and trade informat ion facility, where relevant documentation on the 
MTS is made readily available to government o fficials, the press, the business community, academia, 
and other authorized users.  Resource persons, name ly coordinators, are attached to the Reference 
Centres, to help users find their way through the technical and legal documentation. 
105.  The establishment of a WTO Reference Centre consists of three elements: 
(a) creation of a local "library" with documents and publications on the WTO, 
including CD-ROMs, DVDs and other machine-readable materials; 
(b) access to the Internet, in particular to the WTO web-site;  and, 
(c) hands-on training in using relevant soft ware, the web browser, hyperlinks, and 
e-mail to communicate with the WTO. 
106. The Reference Centre gives direct access to public and in the case of authorized users, 
restricted WTO websites and databases, including  Documents Online, the Integrated Data Base (IDB) 
the Consolidated Tariff Schedules (CTS), WTO Serv ices Electronic Schedules, Statistical databases, 
the text of the Agreements, and other official pape rs released during negotiations. Electronic versions 
of WTO publications and the public website are also provided on CD-ROMs/DVDs.  The Reference 
Centre not only provides written and electronic inform ation to users, but also connects them with WT/COMTD/W/142 
Page 24  
 
knowledgeable WTO resource persons, who can help th em to understand and to interpret the rules and 
their developmental implications and to res pond to questions on specific trade issues.   
107. During the year 2006, the Reference Centre programme will essentially focus on the LDCs, 
small economies and JITAP beneficiaries.  It is  envisaged to undertake 22 missions for the 
establishment and upgrading of WTO Reference Centres, to be financed through trust funds.  The 
programme will concentrate on training the participan ts in the efficient use of the on-line connection 
to WTO websites and databases.  Particular atten tion will be paid to the quality of the computer 
equipment provided to beneficiary countries.  In  the case of the LDCs, the activities to be executed 
during the year 2006 will focus on the upgrading of the WTO Reference Centres installed during 1999 
and 2000.  Connection to the Internet will contin ue to be provided through the SITA's Network
6 
unless a reliable and reasonably priced local Internet  Service Provider (ISP) can be used. In addition, 
other WTO Reference Centres will be installed during 2006 in cooperation with the ITC and the 
European Commission (EC). 
(ii) Technical Assistance within the Trade Po licy Review Mechanism (TPRM) Framework  
 
108. The TPRM is a valuable forum for achieving tr ansparency in, and understanding of, the trade 
policies and practices of Members.  TPRs of developing and LDCs Members have increasingly performed a technical assistance function and have  been useful in increasing understanding of the 
trade policy structure in place and its relationshi p with the WTO Agreements, playing an important 
part in "capacity building and mainstreaming" .  The main objectives of the reviews are: 
• to enhance understanding in these countri es of the WTO Agreements, enabling better 
compliance and integration in the MTS;  and, 
• to enhance interaction between government ag encies, also facilitated by the reviews. 
109. The Secretariat reports' wide coverage of Members' policies assists governments to identify 
any shortcomings in policy and specific areas wher e further technical assistance may be required. 
110. Since 2000, the review process for LDCs and a number of other developing countries has 
included a two-to-four-day seminar for their official s on the WTO and, in particular, the TPR exercise 
and the role of trade in economic policy, including  a presentation by the participants from the country 
under review on the experience from trade liberaliza tion efforts and round tables.  The Secretariat 
report for an LDCs review, as well as other less de veloped countries, includes a section on technical 
assistance needs and priorities, as identified in coop eration with the Member concerned, and with a 
view to feeding this into the IF process.  For LDCs, the Secretariat also works closely with the 
World Bank on the trade component of the latter's Diagnostic Trade Integration Studies (DTIS), with 
the reviews being an integral part to the frami ng of the DTIS. The ITTC and TPRD have jointly 
elaborated a methodology to use TPRs more syst ematically as a tool fo r needs assessment (see 
below).  These activities ar e assimilated to national activities, a nd the costs covered from both regular 
budget and trust funds. 
(c) Other Support Activities 
(i)  Assisting Beneficiaries in Conducting Needs Assessment 
111. It is generally recognized that WTO's TRTA can more effectively contribute to building 
lasting capacity if it is planned and designed on the basis of a thorough assessment of the Members' needs.  Following the discussions in the CTD and in  the informal consultations process, guidelines for 
needs assessment were prepared by the Secretariat to  be used by beneficiaries in conducting their own 
                                                     
 
6 (*) Société Internationale de Télécommunications Aéronautique (SITA ) 
  WT/COMTD/W/142 
 Page 25 
 
 
needs assessment for TRTA (JOB(04)/113), as well as an internal secretariat note indicating how 
ITTC and TPRD will co-operate to build the needs assessment into the TPR process. 
112. The objective of these guidelines is to assist Me mber countries in the process of identifying 
their needs, bearing in mind that this task is th e prime responsibility of the beneficiary country.  The 
design of these proposed guidelines is based on th e pilot needs assessment s that were conducted 
through desk studies by the Secretariat.  The gu idelines are not prescriptive in any way and countries 
are encouraged to adapt the approach to their own conditions.  The Secretariat can assist beneficiaries 
in undertaking their needs assessment by providing data and information of  direct relevance.  
113. Moreover, the new process could lead to the in clusion of the needs assessment in the policy 
statement (government report) which would outline th e main principles and directions of a country's 
trade policies or, as an attachment to the same doc ument. It is understood that each Member decides 
on the form of such statements. In some cases and in order to lighten the burden on capacity 
constrained Members, an official, from the Me mber under review may be recruited under the 
Netherlands Trainee programme to conduct, for the Member, the necessar y needs assessment for 
TRTA.  Following the successful conclusion of th e needs assessment exercise, TRTA activities will 
be planned and conducted at the national or regional levels for the concerned Members. 
(ii) Distance Learning and Information Technology 
114. The main objectives of the distance learning programme and information technology are to: 
• take full advantage of information technology  and the Internet as a complement and 
an alternative to traditional training programs; 
• enhance WTO outreach to academic instituti ons and individual students;  and, 
• develop WTO-related training material which would not require simultaneous 
presence of the trainees and trainers in Geneva or in the regions. 
115. To that effect, the Secretariat will continue  the development of a comprehensive distance 
learning programme consisting of different types of IT-based technical assistance and training tools.  Each type of product targets different categories of participants and will meet distinct needs. 
(a) CBT Modules :  a number of computer-based training modules (CBTs) on specific WTO 
Agreements/Issues is  available on-line throug h the WTO webpage on distance learning and on 
CD-ROM or DVD.  Each CBT includes theory and exercises through multiple choice questions 
with an automatic correction mechanism.  The CBT s  are used essentially for self-training.  In 
2006-2007, four  to six new modules will be deve loped. In particular, collaboration with the 
Institute of Advanced Studies of the United Nations University will continue in the 
development of video-based CBTs; 
(b) Technical Assistance through the use of CD -ROMs combined with video conferencing :  this 
distance learning modality consists of a combina tion of interrelated media - slide presentations, 
video files, reference documents such as legal texts and lists of specific commitments - all 
stored on the same CD-ROM.  Follow-up traini ng is delivered through video-conferences.  
Three to four additional modules will be de veloped in 2006-2007 in the three working 
languages of the WTO;  and, 
(c)
  e-Training :  the e-Training website provides interactive courses on the Internet allowing 
government officials online access to the training material and to their assigned tutors from 
their office in the capital, the mission or the fi eld.  In 2005, Introduction Courses on WTO and 
its Basic Principles were held in three worki ng languages of the WTO and these courses will  
continue to be offered in 2006-2007 with 50- 60 participants per course over a two month 
duration.  Not only can e-Training be used as a stand-alone activity, but it can also be coupled WT/COMTD/W/142 
Page 26  
 
with traditional face-to-face activities. In this case,  the objective is to facilitate more in-depth 
training by making the online course a prerequi site for participation in more advanced 
activities. Building on the experience gained with the first online introduction course on WTO 
rules (antidumping, safeguards, subsidies and countervailing measures) de veloped in 2005, new 
courses will be offered in 2006-20 07.  Finally, in 2006-2007 th e Secretariat will continue to 
develop new online training material on specifi c WTO issues ranging from basic to advanced.  
The aim is to diversify the offer of online trai ning with respect to both the topics and the level 
of the courses offered. 
116. The cost of the distance learning programme will be met from the regular budget and trust 
funds. 
IV. PROCESSES AND PROGRAMMES 
117. Two particular mechanisms/programmes designe d in joint cooperation between particular 
institutions, donors and recipients, and geared towa rds assisting beneficiary countries with a fuller 
participation in the MTS, relate to JITAP and the IF . 
(a) Joint Integrated Technical Assistance Programme (JITAP) 
118. JITAP is a multi-country, multi-agency capacity building programme, implemented jointly by 
WTO, UNCTAD and ITC, and constitutes an integral part of the Plan.  The second phase of JITAP was launched in February 2003 and covers sixteen African countries
7 selected on the basis of criteria 
determined jointly by the implementing agencies a nd the donors to the programme.  The eight original 
JITAP countries are scheduled to exit the programme as at 31 December 2005.8 
119. The JITAP aims at building capacity and strengthening the national knowledge base on the 
MTS in the beneficiary countries with a view to contributing to their: 
(a) more effective participation in trade negotiations, implementing the WTO 
agreements, and formulating tr ade-related policies;  and, 
(b) improved supply capacity and market know ledge of exporting and export-ready 
enterprises, to derive benefits from business opportunities resulting from better 
market access under the MTS. 
120. JITAP II's key features and programme strategy are: 
(a) partnership among the executing organizati ons, the participating countries and the 
donor community with involvement of other providers of TRTA; 
(b) building networks and synergies among par ticipating countries and extensive use of 
existing national capacities; 
(c) self-implementation of programme modules b ased on generic tool kits provided by 
the agencies; 
(d) pooling of resources in a Common Trust F und (CTF) and coordination with other 
TRTA programmes; 
(e) selection of partner countries and their commitment based on criteria, notably  
                                                      
7 Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, 
Mozambique, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, Senegal and Zambia. 
8 These are Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Tunisia, and Uganda.  WT/COMTD/W/142 
 Page 27 
 
 
(i) allocation of counterpart resources to support programme activities; 
(ii) setting up a National Steering Committee (NSC) and 
creation/institutionalization of an In ter-Institutional Committee on MTS;  
and, 
(iii) mainstreaming of trade as an engine for poverty reduction;  and, 
(f) results-based Management, and particular  attention to gender issues and poverty 
reduction. 
121. As part of an expanded programme of JITAP activities in 2005, an extensive schedule of 
training activities was conducted, concentrated ma inly on the key negotiating subjects under the DDA 
negotiations, including agriculture, services, trade facilitation, and NAMA.  Further, implementation 
of the various modules under JITAP was consolidated especially for the exiting countries.  In the year 
2006 activities will be devoted mainly to consol idation of the modules in the eight remaining 
countries as they prepare for eventual graduation from the programme. 
122. Activities to be carried out by the WTO in  2006 under Module 2 will consist mainly of 
technical missions to establish or upgrade Refere nce Centres and National Enquiry Points (NEPs) on 
SPS, TBT, Services and TRIPS in the remainin g eight ITAP countries.  These missions entail 
procurement of computer equipment and training of  managers on efficient operation of Reference 
Centres and NEPs.  However, the WTO will also be  involved in the activities under the other modules 
in which the partner agencies have a lead role.  Notably, training activities in the various subjects 
continue to draw heavily on WTO resource persons. 
123. The total cost for the implementation of JITAP II for the initial four year period 
(February 2003-December 2006) for the three agencies  is estimated at US$12. 6 million and is covered 
by the JITAP trust fund. 
(b) The Integrated Framework for Trade-Related Technical Assistance to LDCs  
124. The main objectives of the IF for trade-related assistance to LDCs are:   
• to enhance economic growth and devel opment capacities of LDCs, through the 
combined efforts of six international organizations, the IMF, ITC, UNCTAD, UNDP, 
the World Bank and the WTO, as well as with  the full participation of development 
partners and the donor community; 
• to ensure that national trade policies are integrated into the overall development and 
poverty-reduction strategies for each country;  and, 
• to coordinate trade-related technical assistance provided by the various agencies and 
other (bi- and multilateral) development part ners, each in its own area of competence 
and funded from its own resources. 
125. The IF process covers 35 countries to date which are at various stages of the process.  
126. The activities to be undertaken in the year 2006 will relate both to the design, management 
and implementation of current and new IF activities.  These will include: 
• participation in meetings of the IF management structure such as the Integrated 
Framework Working Group (IFWG) and th e Integrated Framework Steering 
Committee (IFSC).  Although normally held in one of the Headquarters of the six IF core Agencies, some meetings of the IF WG in 2006 are likely to be held in the 
beneficiary countries, to bring the IF closer to the realities "on the ground";  and, WT/COMTD/W/142 
Page 28  
 
• participation in IF-related seminars and conferences, as well as in the workshops for 
the implementation of the IF, such as Validation Workshops and Implementation 
Workshops with a country's donor community.  The Secretariat will also participate 
in the execution of TRTA projects flowing from the IF process.  It should be borne in mind that the number of LDCs participating in  the IF is consider able (35 to date), 
which will have direct consequences on the number of IF-related activities the 
Secretariat will participate in. 
127. Most of the anticipated activities will relate to  WTO's involvement in national workshops and 
seminars in beneficiary countries, as well as in meet ings of the management structure. Costs are met 
from the regular budget or from trust funds. 
V. PARTNERSHIPS AND INPUTS INTO ACTIVITIES ORGANIZED BY OTHER 
BODIES  
128. In order to build and strengthen local cap acity in beneficiary countries and enhance 
ownership, emphasis is increasingly put on partnerships , at varying levels of involvement with other 
providers or sponsors of TRTA.  Su ch partnerships can relate to the design and execution of specific 
programmes, including the IF and JITAP, as well as to the general coopera tion on TRTA with other 
agencies and organizations.  Basically, in each geogr aphical region partnerships are built and used for 
training purposes and for conducting joint activities.  Th e nature of the partnerships varies widely 
among partner institutions, depending on the ins titution itself, the contents of any signed 
undertakings, where they exist, and on the agr eed objectives in the partnership arrangements. 
129. The Plan intends to build on what  has already been developed over the last few years.  It has 
been acknowledged that partnerships have greatly improved the delivery of WTO TRTA.  
Partnerships in the delivery of WTO TRTA are also inevitable when considered against the 
background that the training and technical assistan ce is concerned with the WTO Agreements and, 
more recently, with the DDA. 
It is expected that these partnerships will: 
• enrich the quality of training and techni cal assistance activities by using existing 
capacity, expertise and faciliti es, where available, at the regional level and/or in 
Geneva.  Moreover, such c ooperation will facilitate th e delivery of technical 
assistance and the dissemination of WTO training programmes; 
• achieve greater coherence among providers of WTO-related training and technical 
assistance; 
• gradually transfer ownership and building partnerships on technical assistance;  and, 
• optimize the use of resources available. 
130. Moreover it is important for the WTO to be represented in meetings held by other 
international organizations, and to provide input to  the debate that carries the WTO brand.  WTO's 
participation is increasingly required at:   
• Seminars and workshops organized by other/ partner organizations, where WTO officials 
are called upon to make specific, topic re lated presentations and give lectures;   
• International meetings and conferences at the po litical level.  Such meetings can in most 
instances not be anticipated, but past expe rience shows that the WTO attends annually 
between 80 to 100 such events.  WTO's partic ipation in such meetings is considered 
indispensable for a variety of reasons:    WT/COMTD/W/142 
 Page 29 
 
 
(i) it can be essential for coordinating and defining effective policies with other 
agencies, as well as for ensuring policy coherence; 
(ii) it provides opportunities to brief stakeholders on the state of play in the 
negotiations or address and clarify any specific issues regarding the WTO;  and, 
(iii) it can be critical for engaging in polic y dialogues with outside communities, 
including the private sector, Parliamentarians and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). 
131. The costs of the WTO's representation at activities that do not have a training component will 
be met from the regular budget.  Other activities may be funded by either the regular budget or the 
GTF, depending on the nature of the activity. 
(a) Regional Partnerships 
132. Partnership arrangements have been establishe d at the regional level, and by way of 
illustration, these include the following: 
• in Africa, training and technical coopera tion activities are undertaken in partnership 
with the United Nations Economic Commi ssion for Africa (UNECA), the African 
Development Bank (AfDB), the Economic Community of West African States 
(ECOWAS), the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) Secretariat, Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), South African Development Community (SADC), West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) etc.  The "Agence internationale de la francophonie" is also a partner in 
this region.  Its "Rexpaco" programme dovetails well with WTO's programme of 
activities with academics and is specifically aimed mainly at African French-speaking 
states; 
• for Arab and Middle East countries, following the signing of MoUs, close 
cooperation is undertaken with the Arab  Monetary Fund (AMF), the Islamic 
Development Bank (IsDB) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission 
for Western Asia (UNESCWA); 
• in Asia and the Pacific there is coopera tion with the United Nations Economic and 
Social Commission for Asia and the Pacifi c (UNESCAP), the Pacific Islands Forum 
Secretariat (PIFS), the International De velopment Law Organization (IDLO),  and 
with the Asian Development Bank; 
• institutional cooperation for training for count ries in Central and Eastern Europe and 
Central Asia takes mostly place with the Join t Vienna Institute (JVI).  The WTO will 
have slots of a total of some six weeks fo r conducting seminars and training courses;  
in addition, the Secretariat undertakes training through the so-called Applied 
Economic Policy Course, which is held twi ce a year at the JVI.  Cooperation also 
takes place with UNESCAP, as well as with  the Canadian Centre for Trade Policy 
and Law (CTPL);  in addition, the WTO is  co-operating closely with the World Bank 
to design and implement a joint training even t in Central Asia, mainly geared towards 
acceding countries;  
• in Latin America and the Caribbean, the bulk of regional activities are undertaken in 
close partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB), in particular 
its Institute for the Integration of Latin America and the Caribbean (INTAL).  Every 
year a joint programme is defined and co-financed.  Within the framework of the IADB/INTAL cooperation, partnerships exis t with regional integration Secretariats WT/COMTD/W/142 
Page 30  
 
such as the Latin American Integrati on Association (ALADI), the Andean 
Community, Central American Economic Integration Secretariat (SIECA) and 
Mercosur, as well as with the Organization of American States.  In the Caribbean, 
cooperation exists with the CARICOM S ecretariat and the Caribbean Regional 
Negotiating Machinery, as well as the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States and 
the Association of Caribbean States. 
(b) Other Partnerships  
133. The Secretariat is always seeking to stre ngthen and expand cooperation with other 
international organizations, regiona l bodies and institutions.  A total of some twenty MoUs currently 
exist, with different internati onal organizations, bodies and partner institutions.  It should be noted 
that, in addition to the MOUs, the WTO has a large number of partnership arrangements, which are 
based on a pragmatic approach to undertake join t activities, including with other organizations, 
regional bodies, training centres, academia, without ha ving established a formal MOU.  Each of these 
partnership arrangements have their own specificiti es in relation to the region or activities to be 
undertaken. The TA Plan includes as much as possible those activities that are undertaken jointly and 
for which inputs have been received from partner organizations by mid-summer 2005. 
134. The MoU with UNIDO, signed at Cancun, (Sept.  2003) is geared towards addressing supply-
side constraints in conjunction with barriers to ma rket access.  This cooperation has led to concrete 
actions in beneficiary countries that were iden tified under the MoU under the pilot phase.  For each 
pilot country project documents are elaborated for implementation in the second phase. For WTO's 
participation in the execution of phase II, an estimated CHF50,000 will be required.  
135. Another partnership arrangement, with IDLO co mes largely in support of regional training 
and contributes to raising general levels of knowledge on the WTO and the multilateral trading 
system. In addition to its training centre in Rome, IDLO has various regional training centres which 
are used for joint training programmes, including those listed in the Annex.  
(c) Standards and Trade Development Facility  
136. The Standards and Trade Development Facility (S TDF) is a joint initiative of the Food and 
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO ), World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), 
World Bank, WHO and WTO.  It was launched in 2002.  The aim of the STDF is to assist developing countries to enhance their capacity to meet intern ational SPS standards, improving the human health, 
animal health and phytosanitary situation, a nd thus gaining  and maintaining market access. 
137. The STDF is both a financing and a coordination me chanism.  Grant financing is available for 
private and public organizations in developing coun tries seeking to comply with international SPS 
standards and hence gain or maintain market acc ess.  The STDF provides funds for two types of 
grants:  project preparation grants and project gran ts.  Project preparation grants up to US$20,000 aim 
to act as a bridge between the identification of technical assistance needs and the development of 
coherent project proposals.  The STDF also funds pr oject grants.  The size of grants typically ranges 
between US$300,000 and US$600, 000.  Applicants must assume some of the financial cost of the 
projects.
9  Further information on the STDF, includi ng the Business Plan, application forms and 
information on projects approved can be found at  the STDF website www.standardsfacility.org.   
138. A contribution of CHF225,000 to assist the executing institution, the WTO, to administer the 
STDF, will be made in 2006, if required.   
                                                      
9 Applicants from least-developed countries must meet at least 10 per cent of the cost of the project 
from their own resources, while other developing countries are required to fund at least 25 per cent of the project cost.  Further information on eligibility criteria, the application process and governance arrangements for 
the STDF can be found in document G/SPS/GEN/523.  WT/COMTD/W/142 
 Page 31 
 
 
139. While in some instances there ar e costs associated with partnerships, in most cases it is the 
partners who make a contribution to the activities, either in cash or in kind. 
(d) Outsourcing 
140. The WTO's policy on outsourcing is based on the Note by the Secretariat circulated to 
Members (document WT/COMTD/W/116), dated 16 J une 2003.  Experts to be considered for the 
roster are former trade offici als, ex-delegates, former GATT/ WTO staff members, academics, 
recognized experts in a specific field, trainers and officials from other international organizations, to 
be drawn from all regions.  A new database was creat ed and has been operational since early 2004.  
Administrative procedures have been established to  guide the process of applications, selection and 
implementation of outsourcing of activities by divisions, as well as fo r the process of evaluation of 
performance of resource persons and reporting.  The database is administered by the Human 
Resources Division and jointly managed with the I TTC.  Costs associated with the contribution of 
resources persons to the implementation of techni cal assistance activities will be met from trust funds 
and the regular budget. 
VI. MONITORING AND EVALUATION 
141. The implementation of WTO's technical assistance evaluation strategy and the established 
procedures as well as the office-wide application of  evaluation formats and tools have effectively 
supported the new TA planning framework.  The revi sion of the back-to-office reporting format (self-
evaluation) and the participant's evaluation form s (PEF) took place in line with the new planning 
framework.  In 2006 transparency of and accountability for TA results will continue to be facilitated 
by internal evaluations by TA providers and TCA.   Moreover, the main recommendations made in the 
TA Plan for 2005 with regard to ensuring deliver y of high quality, effective and efficient TRTA 
remain valid for 2006.  
142. Evaluation work will cover the entire cycl e of planning, design, implementation and 
evaluation of TA and focus on the consolidation of th e results achieved during the last four years.  In 
the planning phase priority will  be  accorded to the improved selecti on of the participants, the more 
systematic identification of their needs and expect ations. TCA will continue to encourage the intake 
of not more than 30 participants per TA activity and the organisation of TA events of smaller in 
number but longer in duration.  This will be in lin e with the strategy to place quality considerations 
before quantity. 
143. Regarding the design phase, efforts will be made to ensure the development of more coherent 
and logical design of TA programmes, which wi ll include realistic, measurable and achievable 
objectives, supported by performance indicators and ta rgets, set out prior to the delivery of the TA. 
TCA will continue to provide the required assistance in terms of regular briefing and training to this 
work. Pending on resources available, efforts will  be made to assist ITTC and the operational 
Divisions in developing performance indicators for the products included in the Plan.  
144. Regarding the implementation phase, priority w ill be given to encouraging the divisions to 
develop more case studies and practical exercise s adapted to the recipient countries, which is a 
recurrent request of the beneficiaries of WTO TA.  Support will also be given to the development of 
standardized training packages, which could further improve the e fficiency of WTO TA. 
145. Regarding the evaluation phase, the proper app lication of the WTO's evaluation procedures 
and tools by ITTC and the operational divisions w ill be monitored to ensure that the BTORs put 
forward information not only on the delivery of the TA event but also on its results, and make user-
friendly recommendations and follow-up actions.  Monito ring actions will be taken to ensure that all 
TA activities subject to evaluation will be reported on and TCA receive copies of the reports.  It is 
crucial that after four years of evaluation activities the evaluation results be used also in the regular WT/COMTD/W/142 
Page 32  
 
work of the Secretariat. TCA will continue its efforts to brief and train the staff on the proper 
application of the established evaluation procedures,  methods and tools and provide feedback to the 
TA providers on their evaluation reports.  Dependi ng on resources TCA will continue to conduct 
some ten to fifteen on-site evalua tions and carry out ex-post evaluati ons of TAs across the board.  The 
M&E system, policy, strategy, procedures and tool s will also be made available for users on the 
Intranet of WTO. 
146. In accordance with established practices the TAMC  will continue to serve as a forum for 
exchanging across-the-board experiences and views on every phase of planning, design, implementation and evaluation of TA. 
147. The planned Strategic Review of WTO TRTA activities might also result in recommendations 
that should be implemented during the planning period.  
148. In order to fully implement the evaluation manda te and the many folded tasks outlined above, 
the financing of evaluation work has been secured by  the inclusion in the Plan (see Chapter E of 
Annex 2) of an annual ten-month professional s upport to TCA as well as mission credits.  It is 
expected that the information emanating from mon itoring and evaluation work will continue to be 
systematically collected, analysed  and followed up, thereby capitalizing on the most important source 
of knowledge of effects and impact of WTO TA. 
VII. FUNDING 
149. Pursuant to the commitment contained in paragr aph 40 of the Doha Declaration, the General 
Council approved on 20 December 2001 the creation of  the GTF and defined its terms of reference.
10  
One of the main purposes of the GTF was to cons olidate the numerous extra-budgetary resources of 
the WTO in one single un-earmarked fund, so as to pr ovide a solid and stable financial basis for WTO 
technical assistance and capacity building.  This is  the reason why the terms of reference of the GTF 
provide a monitoring mechanism for the pledges and for the payment of the contributions.  The General Council also increased substantially the sh are of the regular budget dedicated to technical 
assistance, but the GTF is now the main sour ce of funding for technical assistance.  
150. According to the terms of reference of th e GTF, the Committee on Budget, Finance and 
Administration will have to recommend to the Gene ral Council a target amount for the GTF in 2006.  
The target amount will correspond to the estimated value of the 2006 TA Plan as determined by the 
CTD, taking into account the resources available fo r technical assistance in the regular budget for 
2006, and resources contributed by partner ins titutions in respect of shared activities.  
151. It is recalled that under the terms of referen ce of the GTF (Cf footnote 10) the global trust 
fund will be operated against peri odic benchmarks and closely supervised by the CBFA and CTD.  By 
31 December of the year preceding the fund's revolvi ng annual target period, actual contributions (not 
only pledges) amounting to 25 percent of the annual total should be recorded.  For 2006, this means 
that contributions of some CHF 6 million would be requi red by the end of this year toward next year's 
spending.  By 31 March, another 50 percent should be  in hand for an overall 75 percent of the total 
estimated expenditures for the year.  By 30 June, 100 percent of the funds needed should be received.   
Where contribution receipt targets are manifestly not met, the General Council is to meet on an urgent 
basis to discuss the matter.  Proper account will be taken of multi-year contributions. 
152. It is noted that pledges made by Member s during the year 2005, followed by effective 
contributions into the GTF, did not meet these fundi ng requirements, a situation that threatens to 
jeopardize the implementation of the Plan 2006, as the funds in the GTF are expected to be fully 
utilized by the end of 2005.  Thus, the liquidity that was available at the beginning of the year 2005, 
rolled over from 2004, will no longer exist to cover funding requireme nts of TRTA activities from the 
                                                     
 
10 See document WT/BFA/56, and in particular its paragraphs 13 to 22 and its annexes A and B.  WT/COMTD/W/142 
 Page 33 
 
 
very beginning of 2006. In order to ensure a smoot h start with the implementation of the TRTA Plan 
in January 2006, Members are invited to ensure f unding in line with the requirements.  The financial 
requirements will be presented to the Member s at the next formal session of the CTD. 
 
  WT/COMTD/W/142 
Page 34  
 
ANNEX
 1  
THE  PRODUCTS  MATRIX:  TABLE  OF CONTENTS 
A. GENERAL  WTO-RELATED  TRAINING  AND  TECHNICAL  ASSISTANCE 
(a) Trade Policy Courses 
(i) Geneva-based Trade Policy Courses 
(ii) Regional Trade Policy Courses 
(b) Geneva-based Introduction Courses 
(c) Regional and Sub-regional Short Trade Policy Courses and DDA Advanced 
Training Programme 
B. SPECIALIZED  AND  ADVANCED  TRAINING  AND  TECHNICAL  ASSISTANCE 
(a) Geneva-based Specialized Courses 
(b) National Technical Assistance Activities 
(c) Regional Seminars 
(d) Trade Negotiations Techniques 
(e) Outreach Activities for Parliamentarians and Civil Society 
C. ACADEMIC  SUPPORT  FOR  TRAINING  AND  CAPACITY  BUILDING:    
AN INTEGRATED  APPROACH 
(i) Regional Trade Policy Courses (see A. (a) (ii) ) 
(ii) Workshops for University Professors on WTO Matters 
(iii) Support Programme for Doctoral Studies 
(iv) Programme for Visiting Academics 
(v) Research Collaboration 
(vi) Document Dissemination Programme for Universities 
D. SUPPORT  TRAINING AND TECHNICAL  ASSISTANCE  FACILITIES 
(a) Geneva-Based Activities 
(i) Geneva-based Topic-Specific Symposia 
(ii) WTO Introduction Days 
(iii) Other forms of Geneva-based Support 
(iv) Trainee Programmes and Internships 
(b) Activities Held in the Field 
(i) References Centres 
(ii) Technical Assistance within the TPRM Framework 
(c) Other Activities 
(i) Assisting Beneficiaries in Conducting Needs Assessment 
(ii) Distance Learning and Information Technology 
E. OTHER PROGRAMMES AND SUPPORT ACTIVITIES WITH FUNDING REQUIREMENTS  
   WT/COMTD/W/142
 Page 35ANNEX 2 
 
THE PRODUCT MATRIX: LIST OF ACTIVITIES 
 
Subject / 
Programme Region/ Sub-region Description of the Activity WTO Divisions Cooperation with other 
Bodies/Organizations No. of participants 
x 
 days 
A. GENERAL WTO-RELATED TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE 
(a) Trade Policy Courses  
  35th Trade Policy Course (English)    ITTC, WTO Divisi ons, UNCTAD, ITC, 
WIPO, World Bank (30x60) 1800 
  36th Trade Policy Course (English)  ITTC, WTO Divisions , UNCTAD, ITC, 
WIPO, World Bank (30x60) 1800 
  37th Trade Policy Course (French)  ITTC, WTO Divisions , UNCTAD, ITC, 
WIPO, World Bank (30x60) 1800 (i) Geneva-based 
Trade Policy 
Courses         
  38th Trade Policy Course (English)  ITTC, WTO Divisions , UNCTAD, ITC, 
WIPO, World Bank (30x60) 1800 
Caribbean Regional Trade Policy Cour se - Based on the same model as 
Geneva-based TPC - co-delivered with academics and 
specialists from the region ITTC, WTO Divisions, Partner University (31x60) 1860 
Africa (English) Regional Trade Policy C ourse - Based on the same model as 
Geneva-based TPC - co-delivered with academics and 
specialists from the region ITTC, WTO Divisions, Partner University (25x60) 1500 
Africa (French) Regional Trade Policy C ourse - Based on the same model as 
Geneva-based TPC - co-delivered with academics and 
specialists from the region ITTC, WTO Divisions, Partner University (28x60) 1680 
Asia and Pacific Regional Trade Policy Course - Based on the same model as 
Geneva-based TPC - co-delivered with academics and 
specialists from the region ITTC, WTO Divisions, Partner University (33x60) 1980 (ii) Regional 
Trade Policy 
Courses  
Latin America Regional Trade Policy C ourse - Based on the same model as 
Geneva-based TPC - co-delivered with academics and 
specialists from the region ITTC, WTO Divisions, Partner University (25x60) 1500 
SUB-TOTAL I 15,720   WT/COMTD/W/142 
Page 36 Subject / 
Programme Region/ Sub-region Description of the Activity WTO Divisions Cooperation with other 
Bodies/Organizations No. of participants 
x 
 days 
(b) Geneva-based Introduction Courses 
   9th Introduction course for Least-Developed countr ies (French) ITTC, WTO Divisions, UNCTAD, ITC, 
WIPO, World Bank  (30x15) 450 
    10th Introduction course for Least-Developed countries 
(English) ITTC, WTO Divisions , UNCTAD, ITC, 
WIPO, World Bank (30x15) 450 
  1st Introduction Course on Economics, the WTO and Trade 
Policy for Geneva-based delegates ITTC, Economics Research and Statistics 
Division (30x5) 150 
SUB-TOTAL II 1,050  
(c) Regional and Sub-regional Short Trade Policy Courses and DDA Advanced Training Programme 
Africa (English) DDA Advanced Training Programme for Seni or Government 
officials ITTC, WTO divisions, University of Western 
Cape (26x5) 130 
Africa (French) DDA Advanced Training Programme for Seni or Government 
officials ITTC, WTO divisions (27x5) 135 
Africa and Middle East 
countries (English) WTO/IDLO Public International Trade Law Course  ITTC, Legal Affairs Division, IDLO (30x15) 450 
Africa (French) WTO/UEMOA  Short Trade Policy  Course ITTC, WTO divisions, UEMOA (16x5) 80 
Africa (French) WTO/CEMAC  Short Trade Policy  Course ITTC, WTO divisions, CEMAC (24x5) 120 
Arab and Middle East 
countries DDA Advanced Training Programme  for Senior Government 
officials ITTC, WTO divisions (19x5) 95 
Organization of Islamic 
Conference French-
speaking Members WTO/IsDB Short Trade Policy Course for IsDB Members 
countries (French) ITTC, WTO divisions (19x15) 285 
Organization of Islamic 
Conference English-
speaking Members WTO/IsDB Short Trade Policy Course for IsDB Members 
countries (English) ITTC, WTO divisions (25x15) 375 Regional and 
Sub-regional 
Short Trade 
Policy Courses/ 
DDA Advanced 
Training 
Programme  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Asia DDA Advanced Programme for Se nior Government officials ITTC , WTO divisions, UNESCAP (23x5) 115   WT/COMTD/W/142
 Page 37Subject / 
Programme Region/ Sub-region Description of the Activity WTO Divisions Cooperation with other 
Bodies/Organizations No. of participants 
x 
 days 
Asia (French) Short Trade Policy Course  ITTC, WTO divisions, Institut du grand 
Mékong (20x5) 100 
Asia and Pacific WTO/IDLO Public Intern ational Trade Law Course (English) ITTC , Legal Affairs Division, IDLO (30x15) 450 
Asia and Pacific 9th WTO/UNESCAP trade policy course ITTC, WTO divisions, UNESCAP (29x5) 145 
Pacific WTO/PIFS DDA Advanced Programme for Senior 
Government officials ITTC, WTO divisions,PIFS (14x5) 70 
Caribbean DDA Advanced Training Pr ogramme for Senior Government 
officials from English-speaking countries in the Caribbean ITTC, WTO divisions,  OAS, University of 
the West Indies (25x5) 125 
Central and Eastern 
Europe, Central Asia 
and Caucasus DDA Advanced Training Programme  for Senior Government 
officials ITTC, WTO divisions (23x5) 115 
Central and Eastern 
Europe, Central Asia 
and Caucasus Trade Policy and WTO Accession Jointly with WB and CEECACS (25x10) 250 
Latin America DDA Advanced Training Programme for Seni or Government 
officials from Spanish-speaking countries in Latin America on 
WTO and FTAA issues ITTC, WTO divisions,  OAS, Georgetown 
University (30x10) 300 
Latin America Short Trade Policy Course for ALADI Me mbers ITTC, WTO divisions,  ALADI Secretariat (12x10) 120 
Latin America WTO/IDLO Public International Trade Law Course (Spanish ) ITTC, Legal Affairs Division, IDLO (30x15) 450 Regional and 
Sub-regional 
Short Trade 
Policy Courses/ 
DDA Advanced 
Training 
Programme 
(Cont'd) 
Latin America WTO on-going negotiations for Andean C ountries ITTC, WTO divisions,  Secretariat of the 
Andean Community, INTAL-IADB (10x5) 50 
SUB-TOTAL III  3,960  
B. SPECIALIZED AND ADVANCED TRAINI NG AND TECHNICAL CO-OPERATION 
(a) Geneva-based Specialized Courses 
 
  14th (Specialized) Dispute Settlemen t Course, (Spanish) ITTC, Lega l Affairs Division, Appellate 
Body Secretariat (30x5) 150  
  15th (Specialized) Dispute Settlemen t Course, (English) ITTC, Lega l Affairs Division, Appellate 
Body Secretariat (30x5) 150  WT/COMTD/W/142 
Page 38 Subject / 
Programme Region/ Sub-region Description of the Activity WTO Divisions Cooperation with other 
Bodies/Organizations No. of participants 
x 
 days 
  2nd  Specialized Course on SPS (English) ITTC, WTO Divisions, IICA  (30x10) 300  
  4th Specialized Course on Trade Negotiations (from Theory to 
Practice) -  (English) ITTC (30x10) 300 
SUB-TOTAL IV 900 
(b) National Technical Assistance Activities 
  All regions 250  national activities    
(c) Regional Seminars 
West Africa Regional Workshop Agricultu re and Commodities Division (48x3) 144 
Southern Africa Regional Workshop Agri culture and Commodities Division (48x3) 144 
East Asia  WTO/UNESCAP Regional Workshop Ag riculture and Commodities Division  (48x3) 144 (i) Agriculture 
(Ag)   
Latin America Regional Workshop Agriculture and Commodities Division 
IADB/INTAL (38x3) 114 
Africa (English) Special Training Course on WTO Disput e Settlement Legal Affairs Division, Appellate Body 
Secretariat (27x5) 135 
Africa (French) Special Training Course on WTO Disput e Settlement Legal Affairs Division, Appellate Body 
Secretariat (26x5) 130 (ii) Dispute 
Settlement (DSU)   
Arab and Middle East 
countries Special Training Course on WTO Dispute Settle ment Legal Affairs Divi sion, Appellate Body 
Secretariat (19x5) 95 
Africa (French) Workshop on Government Procurem ent Intellectual Property Division (27x3) 81 
Arab and Middle East 
countries Workshop on Government Procurement Inte llectual Property Division (19x3) 57 
Caribbean Workshop on Government Procurement Intell ectual Property Division, IADB/INTAL (15x3) 45 (iii) Government 
Procurement   
Latin America Workshop on Government  Procurement Intellectu al Property Division, IADB/INTAL (19x3) 57 
Africa (English) Workshop on Non-agricultu re Market Access Negotiations Market  Access Division, Economic Research 
and Statistics Divi sion, SADC, COMESA (52x4) 208 (iv) Non-
Agriculture 
Market Access 
(NAMA)  
  Africa (French) Workshop on Non-agricultu re Market Access Negotiations Market  Access Division, Economic Research 
and Statistics Division, UEMOA, AfDB (54x4) 216   WT/COMTD/W/142
 Page 39Subject / 
Programme Region/ Sub-region Description of the Activity WTO Divisions Cooperation with other 
Bodies/Organizations No. of participants 
x 
 days 
Arab and Middle East 
countries Workshop on Non-agriculture Market Access Negotiati ons Market Access Divisi on, Economic Research 
and Statistics Division, UNESCWA, AMF (38x4) 152 
Asia Workshop on Non-agriculture Market Access Nego tiations Market Access Divi sion, Economic Research 
and Statistics Divi sion, UNESCAP, ASEAN 
Secretariat, ADB (48x4) 192 
Caribbean  Workshop on Non-agriculture Market Access Ne gotiations Market Access Di vision, Economic Research 
and Statistics Divi sion, CRNM, OECS, 
Caricom (30x4) 120 
Central and Eastern 
Europe, Central Asia 
and Caucasus Workshop on Non-agriculture Market Access Negotiati ons Market Access Divisi on, Economic Research 
and Statistics Division, JVI (44x4) 176 
Latin America Workshop on Non-agricultu re Market Access Negotiations Market  Access Division, Economic Research 
and Statistics Divi sion, ALADI, ECLAC, 
Mercosur Secretariat, Andean Community 
Secretariat, SIECA, IADB/INTAL (38x4) 152 Non-Agriculture 
Market Access 
(NAMA) 
(Cont'd) 
Pacific Islands Workshop on N on-agriculture Market Access Negotiations Ma rket Access Division, Economic Research 
and Statistics Division, UNESCAP, PIFS, 
ADB (24x4) 96 
Africa (English) WTO rules on Regional Trade Agr eements Trade Policy Review Division.COMESA, 
SADC, EAC (26x3) 78 
Africa (French) WTO rules on Regional Trade Agreem ents Trade Policy Review Division.   CEMAC, 
CEDEAO, UEMOA (27x3) 81 
Arab and Middle East 
countries WTO rules on Regional Trade Agreements Trade Policy Review Division. Regional 
Secretariats (19x3) 57 (v) Regional 
Trade 
Agreements   
Central and Eastern 
Europe and Central 
Asia WTO rules on Regional Trade Agreements Trade Po licy Review Division.   ECO, BSEC (23x3) 69 
Africa (English) Workshop on Trade Remedies Rules Division (26x4) 104 
Asia and Pacific Workshop on Trade Remedies  Rules Division (30x4) 120 
Caribbean Workshop on Trade Remedies Rules Division (15x4) 60 (vi) Rules 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Balkan countries Workshop on Trade Remedies Rules Division (15x4) 60  WT/COMTD/W/142 
Page 40 Subject / 
Programme Region/ Sub-region Description of the Activity WTO Divisions Cooperation with other 
Bodies/Organizations No. of participants 
x 
 days 
Rules (Cont'd)   Latin America Workshop on Subsidy Discipli nes Rules Division, INTAL-IADB (19x4) 76 
Arab and Middle East 
countries for 
UNESCWA  Applied training in the SPS Agreement Agriculture and Commodities Division, 
Codex, IPPC, OIE (48x4) 192 
Central and Eastern 
Europe and Central 
Asia  for CIS Applied training in the SPS Agreement Agriculture and Commodities Division, 
Codex, IPPC, OIE (48x4) 192 (vii) Sanitary 
and 
Phytosanitary 
Measures (SPS)   
Latin America Applied training in the SPS Ag reement Agriculture and Commodities Division, 
Codex, IPPC, OIE, INTAL-IADB (48x4) 192 
Asia and Pacific WTO/UNE SCAP Seminar on scheduling of commitments and 
ongoing services negotiations for Asian economies  Services Division, UNESCAP (30x3) 90 
TBC Developments in the rule -making negotiations and other 
relevant issues arising from th e ongoing services negotiations  Services Division (30x3) 90 (viii) Services; 
GATS   
TBC Developments in the rule -making negotiations and other 
relevant issues arising from th e ongoing services negotiations Services Division with World Bank (30x3) 90 
West Africa (French) Sub-regional Trai ning on the implementation of the TBT 
Agreement for French-speaking West African countries 
(WAEMU) Trade and Environment Division, CODEX, 
International Organization for 
Standardization  (ISO) (24x3) 72 
Pacific Islands Training on the implementation of the TBT Agreement for 
Pacific Island countries Trade and Environment Division. Pacific 
Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) (18x3) 54 (ix) Technical 
Barriers to 
Trade (TBT)   
South America Training on the implementation of the TBT Agreement for 
South American countries Trade and Environment Division. 
IADB/INTAL (30x3) 90 
Africa (English) Trade Policy Course on Special and Differential Treatment, 
LDCs, and Small Economies Development Division (26x3) 78 
Africa (French) Trade Policy Course on Special and Differential Treatment, 
LDCs, and Small Economies Development Division (27x3) 81 (x)  Trade and 
Development   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Arab and Middle East 
countries Trade Policy Course on Specia l and Differential Treatment, 
LDCs, and Small Economies Development Division (19x3) 57   WT/COMTD/W/142
 Page 41Subject / 
Programme Region/ Sub-region Description of the Activity WTO Divisions Cooperation with other 
Bodies/Organizations No. of participants 
x 
 days 
Trade and 
Development 
(Cont'd)  Latin America Trade Policy Course on Special and Differential Treatment, 
LDCs, and Small Economies Development Division (19x3) 57 
Africa (English) Workshop on Trade and E nvironment  - the work of CTE and 
the negotiations Trade and Environment Division (52x3) 156 
Africa (French) Workshop on Trade and Environment  - the work of CTE and 
the negotiations Trade and Environment Division (54x3) 162 (xi) Trade and 
Environment    
Arab and Middle East 
countries Workshop on Trade and Environment  - the work of CTE and 
the negotiations Trade and Environment Division (38x3) 114 
Africa (English) Workshop on Trade Facilitati on Trade and Finance and Trade Facilitation 
Division, WCO, UNCTAD, WB (52x5) 260 
Africa (French) Workshop on Trade Facilitati on Trade and Finance and Trade Facilitation 
Division, WCO, UNCTAD, WB (54x5) 270 
Arab and Middle East 
countries Workshop on Trade Facilitation Trade and Finance and Trade Facilitation 
Division, WCO, UNCTAD, WB (38x5) 190 
Asia and Pacific Workshop on Trade Facilitati on Trade and Finance and Trade Facilitation 
Division, WCO, UNCTAD, WB, APEC, 
ASEAN, ADB, UNESCAP (74x5) 370 
Caribbean  Workshop on Trade Facilitation Trade and Finance and Trade Facilitation 
Division, WCO, UNCTAD, WB, CARICOM, 
IADB/INTAL (24x5) 120 
Central and Eastern 
Europe, Central Asia 
and Caucasus Workshop on Trade Facilitation Trade and Finance and Trade Facilitation 
Division, WCO, UNCTAD, WB (46x5) 230 (xii) Trade 
Facilitation    
Latin America Workshop on Trade Facilitation Trade and Finance and Trade Facilitation 
Division, WCO, UNCTAD, WB, 
IADB/INTAL (44x5) 220 
Africa Workshop on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health  Intellectual Property Di vision, WIPO, WHO (106x3) 318 
Arab and Middle East 
Countries Workshop on TRIPS Intellectual Prop erty Division, WIPO, WHO (38x3) 114 
Asia  Workshop on TRIPS Intellectual Property Division, WIPO, WHO (46x3) 138 (xiii) Trade-
related 
Intellectual 
Property Rights   
(TRIPS) 
 
 
  
 Central and Eastern 
Europe and Central 
Asia Workshop on TRIPS Intellectual Prop erty Division, WIPO, WHO (46x3) 138  WT/COMTD/W/142 
Page 42 Subject / 
Programme Region/ Sub-region Description of the Activity WTO Divisions Cooperation with other 
Bodies/Organizations No. of participants 
x 
 days 
TRIPS (Cont'd) Latin America Workshop on TRIPS Intellec tual Property Division, WIPO, WHO, 
IADB/INTAL (44x3) 132 
SUB-TOTAL V 7,430  
(d) Trade Negotiations Techniques 
Africa (English) Intensive Course on Tr ade Negotiations Skills ITTC (52x5) 260 
Africa (French) Intensive Course on Tr ade Negotiations Skills ITTC (54x5) 270 
Arab and Middle East 
countries Intensive Course on Trade Negotiations Skills ITTC (38x5) 190 Trade 
Negotiations 
Techniques     
Caribbean  Intensive Course on Trade Negotiations  Skills ITTC, CARICOM, INTAL-IADB (45x5) 225 
SUB-TOTAL VI 945 
(e) Outreach Activities for Par liamentarians and Civil Society 
TBC Workshop for NGOs External Relations Division (30x2) 60 
Asia (English) Workshop for Parl iamentarians  External Rela tions Division,  Commonwealth 
Parliamentary Association (CPA) (30x3) 90 
Pacific (English) Workshop for Parliamentarians  External Relations Division,  Commonwealth 
Parliamentary Association (CPA) (28x3) 84  
TBC Workshop for Parliamentarians  Ex ternal Relations Division, Assemblée 
Parlementaire de la Francophonie (30x2) 60 
SUB-TOTAL VII 294 
C. ACADEMIC SUPPORT FOR TRAINING AND CAPACI TY-BUILDING:  AN INTEGRATED APPROACH 
(i) Regional 
Trade Policy 
Courses (see 
(a)(ii))      
(ii) Workshops 
for university 
professors on 
WTO Matters  Africa (English) Joint WTO/UoN Specialized Trade Policy Course for 
Government Officials 
 
 ITTC, Economic Resear ch and Statistics 
Division, UN University (30x10) 300   WT/COMTD/W/142
 Page 43Subject / 
Programme Region/ Sub-region Description of the Activity WTO Divisions Cooperation with other 
Bodies/Organizations No. of participants 
x 
 days 
Arab and Middle East 
countries Workshop for Academics ITTC, Econom ic Research a nd Statistics 
Division (30x4) 120 
Asia and Pacific Capacity-build ing on trade research ITTC, Econom ic Research a nd Statistics 
Division, UNESCAP (30x5) 150 
Asia and Pacific Future directions of  the Multilateral Tradin g System ITTC, Economic Re search and Statistics 
Division, UNESCAP (30x3) 90 Workshops for 
university 
professors on 
WTO Matters 
(Cont'd)  
Central and Eastern 
Europe and Central 
Asia Workshop for Academics ITTC, Econom ic Research a nd Statistics 
Division (30x4) 120 
(iii) Support 
Programme for 
doctoral studies    Support programme for doctoral students Ec onomic Research and Statistics Division, 
operational divisions (12x120) 1,440 
(iv) Programme 
for visiting 
academics   Programme for visiting academics Economic  Research and Statistics Division, 
operational divisions  
(v) Research 
collaboration    Research collaboration:  jo int research activities with 
academics from developing countries Economic Research and Statistics Division  
(vi) Document 
Dissemination 
programme for 
universities    Document Dissemination Programme for Universities:  the 
donation of a basic set of WTO publications to groups of 20 
universities from each region. ITTC,  regional academic institutions  
SUB-TOTAL VIII 2,220  
D. SUPPORT TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FACILITIES 
(a) Geneva-based activities 
Capital-based delegates TBT workshop on th e different approaches to conformity 
assessment, including on the a cceptance of conformity 
assessment results Trade and Environment Division (95x2) 190 
Capital-based delegates Bi ennial seminar on Accessions for acceding Governments Accessions Division (62x2) 124 
Capital-based delegates Workshop on TRIPS and Public Health for IP /trade officials Intell ectual Property Division, WIPO, WHO, 
UNAIDS (25x3) 75 
Capital-based delegates Workshop on the GPA for GPA Accession and Observer 
countries and WTO Accession countries Intellectual Property Division (39x3) 117 (i)  Geneva-based 
topic-specific 
symposia 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Capital-based delegates Workshop for Heads of I nvestigating Authorities Rules Division (20x3)  60  WT/COMTD/W/142 
Page 44 Subject / 
Programme Region/ Sub-region Description of the Activity WTO Divisions Cooperation with other 
Bodies/Organizations No. of participants 
x 
 days 
Capital-based officials Colloquium for Devel oping Country Teachers of Intellectual 
Property Intellectual Property Division (jointly with 
WIPO) (20x10) 200 
Geneva-based delegates Symposium on TRIPS Inte llectual Property Division (jointly with 
WIPO, if possible)  Geneva-based 
topic-specific 
symposia 
(Cont'd) 
Capital-based delegates Special Workshop on technical aspects of the Agriculture 
negotiations Agriculture and Commodities Division (30x5) 150 
(ii) Introduction 
days   12th , 13th and 14th Introduction Days (trilingual) ITTC, WTO Divisions (105x1) 105 
  Geneva Week Developm ent Division (30x5) 150 (iii) Other forms 
of Geneva-based 
support: Geneva 
Week   Geneva Week Developm ent Division (30x5) 150 
 (iv) Trainee 
Programmes and 
internships  Regular WTO internship, Netherlands Trainee Programme, 
WTO Regional Coordinator in ternship, and WTO Mission 
internship    
SUB-TOTAL IX 1,321  
(b) Activities he ld in the field 
(i) References 
Centres and 
Enquiry Points   22 WTO Reference Centres   (330x3) 990  
(ii) Technical 
Assistance within 
the TPRM 
framework  Pro Memoria : included 
under national activities      
(c) Other activities 
(i) Assisting 
beneficiaries in 
conducting needs 
assessment        
(ii) Distance 
Learning and 
Information 
Technology  E-training, including Video-conferencing    (300x6) 600 
GRAND TOTAL  35,430 
   WT/COMTD/W/142
 Page 45 
 
 
E. OTHER PROGRAMMES AND SUPPORT ACTIVITIES WITH FUNDING REQUIREMENTS 
    JITAP activities       
  IF activities   
  STDF project 2006    
  UNIDO project 2006   
  Joint WTO/OECD Trade Capacity Building Database   
  Integrated Database and Analysis Facility   
   L-Posts and TCA (monitoring and evaluation)     
    Advisory Role on Legal issues (Art. 27.2 of DSU)     
    WTO documentation     
 
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